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GEF-funded Project Highlights: Sadu Shakirov, Kazakhstan
Summary:
Sadu Shakirov’s population, approximately 1,462 people (266 households), have benefitted from this CBA project. The “Sharuashylyk” irrigation canal (12 km) was restored by the project participants including the walls of the canal and five (5) water-distributing gateways. These canals are now used to save water from the autumn-early spring season. 100 hectares of land were irrigated, and 60 hectares of degraded land have been restored thru the planting of alfalfa. 30 tons of alfalfa hay and 30 tons of hay from 60 hectares of natural lands have been gathered from the irrigated lands the first year after the alfalfa was sowed, and yields of hay has increased by 20-30%. Today, the hay harvest provides forage for 500 heads of cattle for 2 months which have increased cattle weight. From these concrete results from the CBA project, the local communities now earn an income when they never have before. In the first year of the project, the local community members earned1400 USD .
Additionally, the project activities have finished successfully, and other communities have started replicating their adaptive practices and activities.
Adaptation Experience:
The grants from GEF have increased the resiliency of the Sadu Shakrov village residents to climate change. With the funds, the local communities were able to learn and increase their knowledge on climate change and how to adapt to it. Land in the project sites have been restored thru the adaptive practices of the communities, and yields in crops that they rely on for their livelihoods have increased by 20-30%. Additionally, the local communities now generate an income, when they never had before.
Results and Learning:
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.
Sustainability:
With regard to sustainability, members of the local communities have noted that the project results has given them confidence that they are able to adapt to increased climate aridity. The project activities, especially efficient water resource use and sustainable land management, have decreased the local communities’ vulnerability to climate risks and have increased their sustainable livelihood.
Replication:
The project has reached the goals due to coordinated work of the local community, understanding of the activities and willingness to further project development. Further expansion of irrigated territories and the area under drought-tolerant crops will promote further animal husbandry development in the area and, improvement of living conditions of the local communities. As the neighboring communities replicate Sadu Shakirov’s activities, the adaptive practices initiated in the CBA project will continue to be implemented.
