Farmers in the Shardara District of the Turkistan Region have reported a shortage of water for irrigating rice fields after the start of the growing season. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation stated that farms with officially signed contracts are receiving their full water allocation. However, the department did not clarify the situation regarding farmers who claim they have signed contracts but have been left without irrigation.
WHAT THE MINISTRY REPORTED
According to Ulysmedia.kz, the situation was commented on by First Vice-Minister Nurlan Aldamzharov on the sidelines of the Senate.
According to Aldamzharov, in 2026, irrigation of 3,500 hectares of rice crops is planned via the Kyzylkum Main Canal, and contracts in this system have been signed for 100% of the area. He also stated that specialists from the ministry, the Republican State Enterprise «Kazvodkhoz», local executive bodies, and a monitoring group are working in the district.
The First Vice-Minister stated that farmers who have signed official contracts are receiving their full irrigation supply.
WHAT THE DISPUTE IS ABOUT
Some farmers claim that contracts for water supply were drawn up back in the spring, so they began sowing rice, counting on guaranteed irrigation. Later, they say, they were told that water was not allocated for some of the fields.
When asked by journalists about farms that claim to have contracts but are not receiving water, Nurlan Aldamzharov again noted that irrigation is provided to everyone who has a contract. He gave no further explanation regarding these cases.
WHAT THE FARMERS SAY
Earlier, farmers in the Shardara District reported that water was cut off after the rice seedlings had emerged. According to them, the problem affected approximately 20 farms.
The farmers reported that some of them were confident the water supply issue had been resolved, as they had been included in contracts in the spring. Later, they were told that certain plots were not within the water supply limit. According to the farmers, without irrigation there is a risk of crop loss.
WHAT WORK IS BEING DONE
Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Regulation, Protection and Use of Water Resources, Temirlan Abdikulov, previously stated that a farm with a contract should receive water. He stressed, however, that decisions on planting areas must take the established water use limit into account.
The ministry also reported that work is underway, together with local executive bodies, to establish the circumstances of the current situation.
