UNDP Strengthens National Capacity for Water-Efficient Agriculture Through CROPWAT Training
Ashgabat, 10 September 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), conducted a technical training on the practical application of the FAO CROPWAT 8.0 software package — a digital tool for calculating crop water requirements and irrigation planning.
The training was organized under the UNDP project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and High Nature Value Ecosystems in the Aral Sea Basin for Multiple Benefits.” The training brought together irrigation engineers, agronomists and representatives of relevant higher education institutions to strengthen their practical knowledge and technical skills in modern approaches to agricultural water resources management.
Building on the methodology of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNDP in Turkmenistan has developed a digital solution specifically adapted to local agro-climatic conditions. The software applies the CROPWAT approach and incorporates up-to-date national data to enable more accurate calculations of crop water requirements and irrigation planning. A practical example of the effectiveness of this approach is the hydro-module zoning carried out in the pilot etrap of Saparmurat Turkmenbashi in Dashoguz velayat, covering more than 86,000 hectares. Amid increasing climate change impacts and declining water resources, this tool provides a practical adaptation measure, supporting a transition towards more scientifically informed irrigation practices.
The programme also included a training-of-trainers component for university instructors, enabling them to share the knowledge and introduce modern digital approaches to calculating crop water requirements into their teaching.
The initiative will help strengthen national capacity for more efficient and science-based irrigation management, while supporting the integration of modern digital tools into agricultural education. In the longer term, these efforts are expected to contribute to more sustainable use of water resources and enhanced water and food security in Turkmenistan.
