DS-SLM - Uzbekistan is executed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources Republic of Uzbekistan (now Ministry of Agriculture). The Internal Executing Agency is the Design and Research UZGIP Institute, Ministry of Water Resources RUz with international, national and local partner organizations and institutes. The national component of the project has been jointly implemented with Uzhydromet (Center of hydrometeorological service) of the Ministry of Emergency Situation since 2016, under the coordination of National Coordination Council CACILM and the National Focal Point for UNCCD in Uzbekistan.
Structure of DS-SLM Uzbekistan
The Mainstreaming Strategy, aiming to integrate SLM into key decision-making processes and facilitate the implementation and scaling out of SLM, was developed in parallel to the conduction of the DLDD/ SLM assessments, following recommendations and steps proposed of the Sustainable Land Management Mainstreaming Tool of FAO. The steps are the following:
(i) assessment of the main barriers hindering the implementation of SLM; (ii) enable environmental policy briefs (strategies, planning, financing etc.) on key decision-making process to enhance integration into SLM; (iii) objectives of SLM Scaling out Strategy and expected activities; (iv) identification and roles of responsible institutions and target groups and (v) Action Plan.
The baseline information collected for formulation of draft Strategy and Action Plan has been compiled by the team experts. The activities included field work at local level in project demo sites, coordination meetings with local decision makers, rural citizen assemblies, trainings for farmers and households in the context of FFS, national SLM delivery workshops, stakeholder consultations and other related actions. The project outputs and draft Strategy have been discussed during the National Coordination Council meeting by involving main target groups and local partners from the project areas.
The expected outputs of the Strategy are the following:
The greatest part of the land resources in Uzbekistan are subjected to the following degradation issues: i) secondary salinization and/or water logging of irrigated lands; ii) loss of organic matter of soils; iii) water erosion of arable soils and wind erosion of desert lands; iv) aerosol transport of salt and dust from the dry bed of Aral Sea to irrigated areas.
In this context, local experts undertook assessments of soil salinity, land degradation and soil organic carbon at national level.
Soil Salinity Map of Uzbekistan
The vector map of soil salinity was developed based on the FAO LADA methodology and national data with the use of GIS/RS techniques
These soils are located mainly in the central and lower part of the Syrdarya (Djizak, Syrdarya and Central Ferghana) and Amudarya (Kashkadarya, Bukhara, Navoiy, Khorezm and Karakalpakstan) River Basins.
Land Degradation Assessment. A map, based on the UNCCD PRAIS LDN TSP guidance (2018) and the national database “Map of Land Degradation in Uzbekistan”, were developed.
Map of land degradation in Uzbekistan
The area of the country affected by DLDD is 127,117 км2 or 28.6% of the total territory, which includes 106,477 км2 of dry lands (overgrazing, deforestation) and 20,640 км2 of irrigated land (salinization, erosion). In addition, about 4% of the area falls under the dry bed of the Aral Sea. The drastic desiccation of the Aral Sea leads to intensive desertification processes and formation of a new desert, the Aralkum, on the dried sea bed. The Aralkum became the new “hotspot” of dust and salt storms in this region in the last few decades.
Soil Organic Carbon. The dominating soil types in Uzbekistan are desert and semi desert soils formed in very dry and contrast conditions, are low fertile and with low content of soil organic carbon (0-20 tons/ha). Based on the FAO GSP /ISRIC Guidance (2017) and national database, the Map of Soil Organic Carbon in Uzbekistan was developed with the support of the FAO GSP team. The map was developed in the following steps: (i) inventory of soil databases and mapping (digital and analog), (ii) collecting and compiling soil data (soil profiles, humus horizon, soil types) and (iii) also digitizing the necessary covariate data (agro climate, geology, hydrogeology, land use, etc.).
The national Soil Organic Carbon map
The selected project areas cover two agricultural landscapes of highest priority: rainfed drought-prone croplands in Kamashi and irrigated salt-affected soils in Zarbdar. These landscapes were selected on the basis of national priorities and needs on increasing the productivity of agricultural land and improving the livelihood of population.
The Overall Location of the DS-SLM Project Area
The selected landscapes are the most densely populated and valuable categories of land use – rainfed and irrigated croplands, as they produce large quantities of agricultural products and play a dominant role in ensuring food security.
Land Use System Mapping
Sub-national Land Use System (LUS) mapping of the Kashkadarya and Djizak project areas were done based on the LADA guidelines on “Mapping Land Use Systems at Global and Regional Scales for Land Degradation Assessment Analysis”. The following criteria and attributes have been used: (i) Biophysical attributes: e.g. slope, soil type, moisture availability (infiltration, runoff), altitude, temperature regime, highland and mountain ecosystems and climatically determined ecosystems; (ii) Land use attributes: e.g. dominant crop type/group, livestock type, small scale irrigation, input level; (iii) Socio economic attributes: e.g. population density, poverty indicators, etc.
Selection of SLM technologies and approaches (T&A).
Main Criteria for selection of T&A: measurable outputs and impact, sustainability (environmental friendliness, economic and financial viability, technical appropriateness, social and cultural acceptance (ethical soundness), institutional viability, local appropriateness, applicability, efficiency, community involvement, and political commitment.
The general list of SLM practices includes 60 technologies and approaches on 4 target areas: (i) integrated soil, nutrient and crop management, (ii) agroforestry, (iii) management of irrigation/water saving, (iv) pasture management. All these SLM practices were applied by national scientific institutions, regional and national programs and projects under the support of the WB, ADB, GEF, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, CACILM, SGP and other international organizations.
Local Consultations and discussions. In order to select the most appropriate SLM technologies and approaches, local stakeholder workshops, consultations and meetings have been organized to bring together all target groups of the project areas. After consultations and discussions with involved participants/ beneficiaries, 29 T&A were defined as the most appropriate and suitable options for the pilot sites.
The National SLM Delivery Capacity Building Workshop was held with the participation of a wide range of national experts of research, environmental institutions, SLM projects, representatives of local community, local authorities and farmers. The participants selected 11 of the most appropriate and reliable technologies for scaling out at local level and integration them into WOCAT SLM database. The selection process is illustrated in photos below.
Discussions and selection of SLM T&A with the local community
Kamashi district
Zarbdar district
SLM Delivery Capacity Building (23.09.2017). Working group discussions.
FAO PLUD Workshops
Local Participatory Land Use Planning Workshops have been organized to apply and the FAO PLUD approach in the project sites: participants included 96 representatives of the four local Citizens Assembles in Kamashi and about 56 members of WCA and other target groups in Zarbdar districts.
Focus group discussions and field interviews were conducted using local adapted questionnaires that included general and more specific questions (farmer/stakeholder profile, land use, current practices of farmers, innovative technologies and SLM practices, needs and problems at the local level) in support of mainstreaming and outscaling of SLM.
The results of the group discussions and interviews included the following limiting factors: (i) a lack of knowledge, experience and information, (ii) financial difficulties, (iii) lack of the equipment, fertilizers, wear of on-farm infrastructure, and other materials, lack of stimulation of SLM practices
The participants offered 4 options for overcoming obstacles to improve scaling out of SLM: (i) raising awareness and knowledge, development of local Action Plan and micro-credits; (ii) cooperation and community work days for repairing of on-farm network; (iii) improvement of technical services of agricultural machinery and units and schedule of their using between farmers, WUAs and agro firms; (iv) operation and maintenance (O&M) training of staff.
FAO PLUD Seminars
Kamashi district
Zarbdar district
SLM Options Mapping
With regards to SLM options, maps have been produced at sub-national level by using GIS /RS techniques. The key indicators for selection of SLM options are: (i) natural & climatic conditions (climate, relief, hydrogeology, slope, water table, etc.), (ii) soil texture, salinity, erosion, SOM, etc. (iii) land use, and (iv) SLM technologies.
Consultations with local authorities, decision makers and local communities have been conducted to enhance adoption of suitable SLM options for scaling out in the project regions.
Map of SLM options
a) Kamashi district
Legend
b) Zarbdar district
Legend
Activity for SLM scaling out
Demonstration of SLM technologies
2016-2017-2018 Crop Seasons
Building Capacity and Partnership on Scaling Out of SLM
Local level: Training workshop for facilitators of Farmer Field School (FFS); Farmer Field School in the selected rainfed and irrigated landscapes
Sub-national level: Stakeholder workshops, expert meetings with target groups and decision makers, review and cost-benefit analysis of SLM practices
Regional level: Regional WOCAT - FAO Training Workshop on SLM Mainstreaming Technologies and Approaches Questionnaires and Database including mainstreaming guidelines.
Benefits and assets of DS-SLM UZB
Socio-economic benefits
Farmer benefits: (I) increasing cotton yield owing to «Gulistan» new variety from 1.8 tons/ha to 3.15 tons/ha at average; (II) water saving during vegetation season is about 1,600-2,000 m3/ha that equal 2 irrigation events; (III) farmer income increased up to 4.8 times:
Environmental benefits:
The project results and the expected scaling out of the SLM areas after the completion of the DS-SLM project are presenting in the roadmap.
SLM Scaling out Roadmap on the short and medium terms
Training workshop for facilitators of FFS
FFS on SLM mainstreaming and scaling up
Regional WOCAT - FAO Training Workshop
The most reliable 11 SLM practices was integrated into the global WOCAT database
Strengthening cooperation, knowledge and participation of DS-SLM Uzbekistan in the global and international forums and conferences:
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