According to local executive bodies, in 2024 Kazakhstan introduced water-saving technologies on 158,000 hectares of agricultural land. Sprinkler irrigation systems were used on 56,000 hectares of farmland and drip irrigation systems on 44,000 hectares.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev earlier criticized the slow progress in adopting water-saving practices, citing annual water losses of up to 40% in some regions. The president has set the task of introducing water-saving technologies on 150,000 hectares of land annually.
The Kazakh Research Institute of Water Management estimates that the use of water-saving technologies saves up to 30% of irrigation water.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov reported on measures taken in 2024 to expand the use of water-saving technologies in Kazakhstan.
A total of 58,000 hectares of land have been leveled across the country. Leveling the fields allows for even distribution of water over their surfaces, increasing the efficiency of irrigation.
Last year, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, raised subsidies for the purchase and installation of water-saving systems by farmers from 50% to 80%.
The state also increased subsidies for farmers employing water-saving technologies, raising support to 85% for irrigation water costs.
Today, there are four plants in Kazakhstan producing domestic sprinklers and drip irrigation equipment.
Three projects are being implemented to launch the production of sprinkler machines in Kazakhstan with two Turkish and one Chinese company.
In addition, this year, together with Chinese companies, two factories for the production of drip irrigation equipment will be opened in the Turkestan region.
