Use of innovative water management technologies in Central discussed in Turkmenistan
A regional seminar “Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Water Management in Central Asia” was held in Ashgabat. The event is organized by the OSCE Center in Ashgabat and the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan.
Experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as from various international institutions shared their best practices in developing and adapting regional programmes on innovative water management technologies.
“Ensuring environmental safety and efficient use of natural resources, including the rational management of water resources and regional cooperation in this area, are important topics on the agenda of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
“Due to the observed climate change and other environmental situations, we should take a reasonable approach to water management. During the seminar, we presented some technologies and solutions that help to rationally use water, grow various crops without harming the environment,” Vinay Nangia, ICARDA, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas said in an interview with the ORIENT.
According to the expert, taking into account the critical shortage of water, issues on use of transboundary rivers, ponds, etc. are becoming more and more urgent, the states should develop more efficient and rational methods for managing water resources, which would include both agricultural and industrial aspects, the interests of all parties.
“We should not focus our interest on the volume of products manufactured only, but also take into account the amount of water consumed. For example, in areas where there is a shortage of water, you should not plant plants that require a lot of water, even if they are highly productive. You should plant crops that are useful, and, at the same time, require the minimum water,” Vinay Nangia said.
During the seminar, the issues related to the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), innovative renewable energy technologies for the water industry and the use of Information and Communication Technologies within the field of sustainable water management were considered.
In Central Asia, systematic work to address the issue by increasing the efficiency of water use and developing water infrastructure is underway.
“Recent technological developments and achievements offer wide opportunities for rational and sustainable management of water resources, as well as for the development of effective legal and financial framework for international cooperation on water and hydro-diplomacy,” Joshmurad Sedekov, Acting Head of the State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan, mentioned.
Turkmenistan carries out the effective policy to strengthen the ecological system in Central Asia within the framework of its IFAS chairmanship. In this context, it is worth to mention the construction of Altyn Asyr artificial lake which would contribute to improving the ecological condition of the whole region.
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