Kazakhstan and FAO Collaborate on Sustainable Water Management Priorities
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Kazakhstan are forging a new partnership program focused on sustainable water resources management and irrigation. A roundtable discussion held in Astana on March 6 highlighted the prospects and priorities of this collaboration.
Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, announced the official decision to launch the partnership program during his recent meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. This initiative underscores the critical importance of addressing water issues at the national level and the urgent need for sustainable water use.
FAO conducted a field mission in Kazakhstan last September to identify key areas related to water management and irrigation in agriculture, specifically in the Kyzylorda, Turkistan, and Zhambyl regions. The program concept is currently being developed, with a focus on addressing transboundary water issues that affect multiple countries.
Gutu emphasized the need to consider various factors such as urban-rural disparities, gender inequalities, and the impact of climate change on water security in Kazakhstan. The partnership program aims to find solutions to these challenges and enhance cooperation in water resource management.
Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurlan Aldamzharov, highlighted the country’s efforts in regional cooperation on water issues. Kazakhstan has been a party to the Water Convention for 24 years and recently acceded to the Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses to promote equitable and sustainable management of transboundary water resources.
Zulfiya Suleimenova, the advisor to the President of Kazakhstan, underscored the country’s commitment to becoming a regional center for cooperation on water security and climate change. Kazakhstan aims to leverage innovative water management methods and enhance transboundary cooperation to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production and industrial development.
The partnership between FAO and Kazakhstan signals a joint commitment to address water challenges and promote sustainable water use in the region. With collaborative efforts and a focus on shared goals, this initiative sets the stage for more effective water resource management and irrigation practices in Kazakhstan and beyond.
