Local | PANORAMA

Packages of seeds and agrochemicals

The wheat seedling grows well thanks to the combination of adapted variety, fertilizer and cultivation technology

GIZ

The farmers together with the technical advice by the agricultural extension service by the cooperative "Agra va Iqlim" get the opportunity to purchase directly the appropriate packages of seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other agrochemicals. As these purchases are needed at the begin of the growth season, when financial means are scarce, they are partly provided on loan basis under affordable conditions (interest rate below normal market rates).

Enabling factors are:

- Packages of seeds and agrochemicals are adapted to local growth conditions and all components are complementary;

- Inputs are made affordable during the time when they are needed, but typically farmers cannot afford them;

- Loans can be returned when farmers have income from the harvest.

The combination of agricultural extension providing side-specific advice with tailored packages of agricultural inputs and the financial mechanism (part loan at affordable conditions) are key for the adoption of new and adapted agricultural technologies and practices. If one or two of these elements would be missing the rate of adoption and succesful application would massively drop. Without specific technical advice farmers do not have the awareness and capacity to purchase suitable combinations of complementary inputs. Advice without the opportunity of direct purchase leaves too much a barrier in terms of the farmers having to find suppliers on their own and having high opportunity costs, and possibly sometimes purchasing suboptimum combinations or insufficient quality and quantity of inputs. And only the availability of a timely and affordable loan enables the farmers to purchase the full quantity of inputs and to apply the adapted technologies.

Inception phase

Implementation

Local

Consultation on agricultural practices and inputs

Demonstration of the drilling machine for direct sowing

GIZ

Explanation of the mechanism of the drilling machine

GIZ

The agricultural extension service of the cooperative "Agra va Iqlim" provides farm-specific advice on choice of crop and the best combination of seeds (varieties), fertilizer, pesticides, cultivation and cultivation technology. The purpose of this building block is to provide the farmers with the best available knowledge to guide their decisions and practice.

The local agricultural extension service combines long-year experience in the specific region with knowledge on internationally available best practices. Further, the extension service collaborates closely with the agricultural departments in the respective districts and it is trusted by the farmers. The collaboration with the GIZ project allowed for the integration of additional state-of-the art technologies.

Agricultural extension needs to be tailored to the specific conditions of the local farmers and all advise has to take into consideration their needs and opportunities, while providing new knowledge and directly applicable suggestions.

Efficient irrigation technology

Outlet of reservoir for drip irrigation with valve for fertilizer application

GIZ

Drip irrigation of fruit tree in household plot

GIZ

Newly planted apple garden in Sayhun town, based on drip irrigation

GIZ

Sprinkler irrigation of potato field

GIZ

Conventional irrigation in the area of the solution had been furrow irrigation only. This technology requires large amounts of irrigation water. In cases of shortage of irrigation water, in particular in drought situations, which due to climate change are increasingly frequent, furrow irrigation is not possible - the water just cannot reach all parts of the field and be taken up by the plants.

In the case of potatos increasing heat causes stress to plants.

As more efficient and climate change adapted irrigation technologies of drip irrigation have been introduced. Drip irrigation allows for a locally targeted provision of irrigation water to individual plants. Additionally it can be used to apply fertilizer in correct dosage and extremely efficiently.

The sprinkler irrigation is highly suitable for potatoes and can help to reduce heat stress in cases where sufficient water of suitable quality is available.

The readiness of farmers to try new irrigation technologies was much driven by the increasing awareness about the limitations of the conventional furrow irrigation, experience of water shortages and the policy of the national and regional governments to apply water efficient irrigation technologies, e.g. in the newly irrigated lands of Sayhun town, which are fully dependent on the costly pump irrigation with water from Syrdarya river. The need was met by the availability of engineering and agricultural knowledge and funding provided by GIZ.

Drip and sprinkler irrigation have been successfully tested in various crops, but the economic viability of these efficient irrigation technologies varies. Drip irrigation is only economically viable where limited irrigation equipment can allow for production of high yield of expensively sold crops, e.g. fruits and melons. For mass crops, like onion and potato, the investment required is too high compared to the prices achieved for the harvest. However, if irrigation water becomes more scarce, irrigation equipment becomes more affordable and/or prices of agricultural products increase, this situation may change and drip irrigation may become affordable for such crops as well.

Sprinkler irrigation already nowadays can be efficient where increasing temperatures challenge the productivity and quality of potato crop.

Planning phase

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Diversity of water sources

Valve of large irrigation pipeline for supply of household plot in the new town of Sayhun

GIZ

Water delivery by large canal

GIZ

Collecting irrigation water in a large barrel for using it for drip irrigation of household plot

GIZ

Water is pumped from a small well to a water tower, from where it fills a concrete reservoir, which then supplies a fruit garden and a melon field

GIZ

Capture of rainwater from house roof

GIZ

Irrigation water can be used from different sources. In the region, where the solution is implemented these are:

- the Syrdarya river, from where it is pumped through large pipelines;

- irrigation canals;

- wells;

- small springs, which are captured by simple means;

- rainwater collection from the roofs of houses.

The different water sources are related to a diversity of governance systems. The regional government owns and maintains large pipelines and canals, medium irrigation canals are in the responsibility of district water management authorities and smaller structures are cared for by the communities or by individual farmers.

Depending on the amounts of irrigation water available and the associated costs there are increasingly new and water efficient technologies applied for irrigation of the lands.

The diversity of sources of irrigation water is an enabling factor by itself. Together with the availability of diverse technologies it allows for the continuation of irrigated farming under the conditions of climate changed induced increasing aridity and irrigation water shortage.

Irrigated agriculture can be effective and efficient with different sources of irrigation water. Creative innovations and the application of best practices allow for the capturing of even small sources of irrigation water and their use for the cultivation of irrigation dependent crops and thus for generation of local income. By this the resilience of land users to the impact of climate change is improved.

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Rehabilitation (lining) of canals to reduce seepage losses

Rehabilitation works at irrigation canal at Sughdiyon village

GIZ

Checking the quality of concrete lining at canal rehabilitation in Sughdiyon village

GIZ

Concrete lining of irrigation canal in Sughdiyon village is almost finished

GIZ

New concrete reinforcement in old irrigation canal

GIZ

Measuring of irrigation water flow in rehabilitated canal

GIZ

Many irrigation canals are either made as earth canals only or the concrete lining is broken. Leaking canals lose substantial amounts of water, which is consequently not available for irrigation. Furthermore, if affected by flood and debris flows, such canals can easily break and cause substantial damage.

The communities and land users together with the district water management authorities chose the sections requiring reinforcement and lining. Works were implemented with technical and financial support by GIZ, which provided the engineers guiding the rehabilitation measures and financed the purchase and transportation of materials. Communities and land users carried out the works through "hashar", the joint communal voluntary work.

The rehabilitated irrigation canals provide safe and stable irrigation water supply, waterlogging and flooding of lands alongside the canals is prevented. The further maintenance is carried by the local communities through their mahalla (village commitees) and jamoats (communal self-governance structure at sub-district level).

The combination of sound engineering knowledge and suitable materials - financed by the donor - with the willingness of the community members and land-users to contribute their time in form of voluntary work made the solution possible.

The key for success is in the combination of good engineering skills and adequate materials with the work contribution of the local people. A fully externally funded and implemented rehabilitation would not have achieved the ownership and future maintenance. Thus it would likely have been less sustainable. On the other hand, without external engineering skills and provision of suitable materials the communities and land users would not have been able to implement the works in good quality.

Entirety

Local

Efficient irrigation

Outlet of reservoir for drip irrigation with valve for fertilizer application

GIZ

Efficiency of irrigation can be improved in terms of sourcing of irrigation water, distribution and field level use. Site-specific improvements have been introduced, which can serve as models. They include:

1. Sourcing of irrigation water:

- Use of of subsurface water flow in dry riverbeds;

- Use of rainwater harvest from house roofing for small vegetable fields;

- Use of wells with low water discharge in combination with water tower and reservoir to allow for drip irrigation of small orchards and melone fields.

2. Water distribution:

- Lining of irrigation canals with high seepage losses;

- Improved water diversion structures for allocation of optimum water quantities.

3. Efficient irrigation of crops:

- Drip irrigation of various crops, e.g. onion, potato, corn, melon, apple;

- Sprinker irrigation of potato.

The major enabling factors are the collaboration of various actors - water management departments and agricultural departments at district level, village administrations, extension service, communities and farmers.

Sprinkler irrigation already nowadays can be efficient where increasing temperatures challenge the productivity and quality of potato crop.

Entirety

Local

Input packages

Show room in the agro-technical service centre of the Neksigol Group of Companies

GIZ

The farmers together with receiving the technical advice by the agricultural extension service get the opportunity to purchase directly the appropriate packages of seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other agrochemicals. As these purchases are needed at the begin of the growth season, when financial means are scarce, they are partly (50% of their costs) provided on loan basis under affordable conditions (interest rate below normal market rates).

Enabling factors are:

- Packages of seeds and agrochemicals are adapted to local growth conditions and all components are complementary;

- Inputs are made affordable during the time when they are needed, but typically farmers cannot afford them;

- Loans can be returned when farmers have income from the harvest.

The combination of agricultural extension providing side-specific advice with tailored packages of agricultural inputs and the financial mechanism (part loan at affordable conditions) are key for the adoption of new and adapted agricultural technologies and practices. If one or two of these elements would be missing the rate of adoption and succesful application would massively drop. Without specific technical advice farmers do not have the awareness and capacity to purchase suitable combinations of complementary inputs. Advice without the opportunity of direct purchase of inputs leaves too much a barrier in terms of the farmers having to find suppliers on their own and having high opportunity costs, and possibly sometimes purchasing suboptimum combinations or insufficient quality and quantity of inputs. And only the availability of a timely and affordable loan enables the farmers to purchase the full quantity of inputs and to apply the adapted technologies.

Implementation

Local

Subnational

Consultation on agricultural practices and inputs

The agricultural service provides farm-specific advice on choice of crop and the best combination of seeds (varieties), fertilizer, pesticides, cultivation and irrigation technology. The purpose of this building block is to provide the farmers with the best available knowledge to guide their decisions and practice.

Sometimes it may happen that the agronomist advises the farmers to apply a needed input at a certain time, but the farmers do not follow this advice, since at that time they either do not have the financial means for purchasing the recommended inputs or lack access to it. Thus, the provision of advice would not be effective.

Planning phase

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Subnational

Raising awareness with the local population

We are currently collaborating with a youth educational initiative known as The Jungle Library Project. Their team goes to schools in close proximity to our study areas and teaches the students about the importance of the ecosystems they live in, aided by the use our images.

Our images are also shared with the local villagers upon return from deployment. This increases the trust and support we have with these local people who are just as keen to protect Isau Isau as we are.

A strong and transparent relationship with both the local villagers and other projects operating in our study area.

-Transparency is the key to gaining the trust of curious locals. On our first deployment, we had 11 people join the field team. The deployment was not a huge success with the number of people possibly being a contributing factor but we believe that inviting them from the very beginning to see the process and be open with what we are doing has helped create a very good working relationship.

Implementation

Local

Partnerships and collaboration around nutritional security

Working together with other stakeholders for synergy helps in ensuring success.

Pooling human, technical and financial resources helps in achieving more for less time and money, and also helps curb replication of solutions.

All partners and the community are actively involved in the entire process thus each party takes ownership resulting to success.

Cordial relations among all stakeholders
Timely communication and coordiantion to enable participation
Resource allocation by each participating partner to ensure smooth operations hence no gaps/delays in service delivery

Stakeholder collaboration is essential for successful problem diagnosis, identification, planning and implemetation of any interventions in the community