ALM UNDP

 Participants in each of the trainings rated them as very successful -- elements that were rated highly included the materials and the experience of the instructors.  They also recommended that future trainings include presentations and materials in additional languages (i.e. Tajik in addition to Russian).  Additional lessons learned ad good practice related to the level of the materials, women's partcipation, and location are provided in the attached summary report.

The workshop provided important information to the project by providing consensus on the main areas of focus for the project's assessment. The participants confirmed the following priority areas for capacity development: the water sector, agriculture, energy, and land use / forestry. Small group discussions also identified an additional priority area that had not been covered in initial PPCR discussions: human health.  Good data on recent trends are needed in all sectors. The teams also included gender issues, education, and vulnerable groups as cross-cutting issues that should be included in the analysis.

The CBA project introduced a new system of agriculture for the region based on combination of the summer grain crops and winter wheat production. Additionally, it has acquainted the local community members to innovative water-saving irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation and surface irrigation.For crop and wheat production, planting of drought-resistant crops of winter wheat was implemented based on topography. In places with natural snow accumulation in the early spring season, but disappears 10-12 days later, a relief is used to retain water and to prevent runoff. These practices have led to reduced topsoil risks and soil erosion. This approach allows using available natural water from snowmelt and have reduced the dependency of local farmers on other water sources. Additionally, in order to prepare the soil for sowing winter crops, it is processed in view of the recommended dates phosphorous and nitrogen fertilizers are entered. Selection of crops of winter wheat was carried out based on the resistance to the arid climate in the zone of risky agriculture.For more efficient use of water, drip irrigation systems were installed on the local members’ backyards. This system can be easily installed and be easily collected from water filters, fittings, drip tapes. Drip irrigation system allows for maximum results and the most efficient use of available water for irrigation with a minimal cost.For major agricultural producers, the transition to a ground-level irrigation from the soil surface irrigation have led to saving water consumption as well as switch to high-quality watering at a lesser costs. The traditional watering sprinkler systems which irrigate the soil from the height of 2,5 - 3,7 m from the soil surface have proven disadvantageous as 30% of the water evaporates, water jets are demolished by strong winds and promotes land degradation. Converting to the ground-level irrigation through usage of special nozzles for surface irrigation, with just 0.3 m height from the soil surface, have allowed the agricultural producers to save water consumption, as well as arrange high-quality watering at the least cost and to prevent land degradation.For sustainability of the project, new adaptive farming systems and its real benefits shared with other local community members. The benefits which include saving money thru cost reduction on irrigation water and electricity, reducing physical labor due to automation of irrigation, increased yields and profits from sale of crops. Thru demonstration plots, organized within the project from the involvement of the Arnasay local members, knowledge-sharing on the effective water saving technology and experiences gained will be shared. In addition, powerful economic incentives to continue to use the new adaptive approaches to agriculture will be developed.In this regard, a collective transition to drip irrigation in the villages of the district are planning to be included in state budgets starting 2011. Project activities have allowed farmers in rural areas as well as local authorities to be acquainted with the new adaptive technology. 

As the communities were faced with water shortage, they have learned how to save water, when to save water, and the adaptive way of how to use irrigated lands and planting of fodder crops. Fodder crops demands less watering, is resistant to drought, and therefore, it has created the basis for additional forage for livestock in winter and early spring period. In addition, seeding of alfalfa has helped to restore the fertility of degraded arable lands.