Ware User Associations in Issyk-Kul region



Introduction

Since the Soviet Union collapse in 1991 countries of Central Asia had a hard time managing water resources on their own. New water institutional reform became crisis point for countries. This paper is contributing better understanding of the problems connected to water institutions in Kyrgyzstan case study Issyk-Kul region. Issyk-Kul oblast is located in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. Capital city is Karakol. Issyk-Kul is surrounded by Almaty Region, Kazakhstan from the north, Chuy Region from the west, Naryn Region from the southwest and Xinjiang, China from the southeast. Issyk-Kul takes its name from Lake Issyk-Kul which means «warm lake». This lake is world's second-largest high-altitude lake. The lake surrounded by the ridges of the Tian Shan Mountain system: the Kyungey Ala-Too mountains to the north and the Terskey Alatau to the south (the 'sunny' and 'shady' Alatau, respectively). To the south is mountains and 'jailoos' (mountain meadows used for summer grazing).

In Issyk-Kul region existing different problems connected with water distribution and water management. Now in this region there are 20 villages. Where some of them has enough water for irrigation but other one has only limited access to water. At the head of the village is Ayil Okmotu. Aiyl Okmotu (village council) — an executive and administrative body under a strong (rural) or settlement, which manages the affairs of life support and the life activities of the local community within the limits of its power. “With the significance attached to governance, water institutional reform as key to reforms of the water sector became a prominent issue in addressing the water crisis and to reach more effective, efficient and equitable water usage. This affects especially the irrigation sector, where most water world-wide is consumed” (Sehring, 2007). After collapse of Soviet Union international donors established Water User Associations (WUAs) in regions of Kyrgyzstan.

The main target of this paper is to distribute better understanding of the problems connected with water in local level. This research gives the opportunity to see work of WUAs in Issyk-Kul region especially in two villages: Toty-Aygyr and Grigorgevka. This research is based on interviews with experts, different agencies of the state water administration, and farmers.

Methodology

In this research paper was used interview method. To collect data was chosen 2 villages with different administrative structure. These villages have different geographical locations and different climate. Result will provide comparative analysis between them. This method included expert’s questioning which have been conducted with representatives of ayil okmoty. Each village has one ayil okmoty (head of the village) with who was interviewed. It included main questions about village structure, rights and obligations related to village water for irrigation. How them influence to water distribution. What is their responsibility on it? Next interviewers are water administration and related state agencies and individual farmers. Ten farmers from each village were asked. List of farmers was found out during visiting the villages. All farmers selected thus who irrigated different crops. They’re used open questions related to their lands, fees to land and water, crops, different problems faced during irrigation period. Farmers share with their long-term experience.

The aim of these interview is to identify the formal and informal institutions who plays role on water distribution. Also, in each village in deep case studied of Water User Associations (WUA).

Interview have done in August 2021. Two weeks needed to discuss in one village. First interviewers were farmers. One month required to talk with them. There were 26 participators. 20 farmers from 2 villages, 2 ayil okmoty, 2 WUAs representatives and 2 other agency representatives.

Role of WUAs in villages

With the beginning of the agrarian and land reform, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, studying international experience in the operation and maintenance of the on-farm irrigation and collector-drainage network, came to the conclusion that the most optimal solution for maintaining this network is the formation and development of water user associations (WUAs). Therefore, the Resolution of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 473 of August 13, 1997 approved the Regulations on Water Users Associations. On March 15, 2002, No. 38 “Law on Water Users Associations” was adopted and the Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic No. 234 dated April 6, 2004, on-farm irrigation canals were transferred to the balance of water users associations (WUAs) and are serviced at the expense of funds received from water users. The creation of water user associations is due to the need to exercise the rights to water use by farmers and peasant farms, the expediency of concentrating their efforts and funds to carry out coordinated actions aimed at the most efficient use of water resources of irrigated, watered and reclaimed lands.

The number of WUAs in the Republic for the 2nd quarter of 2017 is 486 legally registered water user associations. The irrigated area covered by WUAs in the Republic amounted to 749.2 thousand hectares. or 73.2 % of the total irrigated area(https://www.water.gov.kg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252:ob-ob-edineniyakh-assotsiatsiyakh-vodopolzovatelej&catid=105&lang=ru&Itemid=1308).

POSITION about water user associations in the countryside from June 5, 1995 N 226

Rural Water Users Association is voluntary association of farms and peasant farms with the purpose of joint operation of economic irrigation (irrigation, collector-drainage and waste) networks, regulation use of water resources (waters), carrying out hydrotechnical, and reclamation, water protection and other measures. Creation associations of water users due to the expediency concentration of efforts and funds of farms and peasant farms to carry out concerted actions aimed at the most efficient use of water resources irrigated, watered and reclaimed lands.

On unions (associations) of water users and unions of water user associations

The WUA is a non-profit organization established by two or more WUAs for the joint management, operation and maintenance of main irrigation systems.

1. A WUA is established in accordance with this Law as a non-profit organization acting in the public interest for the purpose of operating and maintaining a certain irrigation system, to provide irrigation water to the owners and users of agricultural land.
2. The main tasks of the WUA are:

— operation and maintenance of the irrigation system within the service area of the WUA and the distribution of water among WUA members on the basis of annual agreements;

— distribution of water on contractual terms to persons who own or use irrigated land within the WUA service area and who are not members of the WUA;

— rehabilitation and improvement of irrigation systems within the WUA service area and implementation of construction works as needed;

— receipt of irrigation water from a water supplier on the basis of a contract for the supply of water or the implementation, in accordance with the established procedure, of independent water intake from natural water bodies (rivers, lakes and underground sources) in accordance with the license obtained and regulation of the use and distribution of water within the service area of the WUA;

— acquisition, replacement, operation and maintenance of hydraulic equipment;

— prevention of water pollution;

— implementation of measures to improve the quality of land;

— training WUA members in progressive irrigation methods and ensuring the use of new methods and technologies. (Law of the Kyrgyz Republic dated March 30, 2013 No. 46)

In the Issyk-Kul region, there are 244 thousand m 3 of river flow per 1 km2, and if we take separately the Issyk-Kul basin, where practically the entire population of the region lives, the river flow resources are only 102 thousand m 3. (T. M. Choduraev, K. O. Moldoshev, BSU).

From till to 2021 was not big changes on law. In Tory-Aygyr village there is one WUA with the staff of only 3 members. Head of the WUA is Talantbek Akeev. Population of the village around 2500 people. Lands for irrigation around 1000 ha but only 600 ha irrigated. From this amount only 300 ha are able to get water properly due to lack of water and other reasons. WUA worked independently from Ayil Okmoty. It was on self-sufficiency from the WUAs established. Irrigation system is only arychnoya (ditch). It is old and traditional method. Due to that water loss is very high. To irrigate 1 ha land required 3500 m3 in fact but on document written 2500 m3. So 1000 m3 loss on transportation.

In Grigoryevka village is bigger than Tory-Aygyr. Population is 5000 people. Irrigation lands 2339 ha. 2800 m3 water required to irrigate 1 ha land(it depends on crop difference). There is also existed WUA with head Bratashova Irina Vasilyevna. This village located near the mountains. Officially WUA should work independently from Ayiol Okmoty but here act as decision maker.

Representors of WUA from Tory-Aygyr village share with project where they could safe and transport water without any loss. It is sprinkling method. They count the cost and wrote this project on the paper. Above mentioned loss of water due to transportation but in case sprinkling method loss will be much less. For example, if 3500m3 can irrigate only 1 ha include transportation, with new method 2 ha without loss. One of the disadvantage of this project is no one can trust to it. Most farmers think that representors will collect money from farmers and after that project will not exist for long time.

Decentralization and participation: With the foundation of WUAs significant efforts have been made to transfer irrigation infrastructure and decision-making power to the local level. Nevertheless, WUAs’ performance is far from satisfactory. This is mainly due to interference of other informal organizations at the local level such as courts of elders, low finance, low recognition through farmers. Additionally, many WUAs only exist on paper (Chemonics International 2003, 29).

On Amendments to Some Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic (to the Water Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic «On Unions (Associations) of Water Users and Unions of Water User Associations»)

From December 10, 2021 № 151

«association (association) of water users (hereinafter — WUA) — an organization established by water users for the purpose of operation and maintenance of irrigation systems;";

«local self-government bodies — representative, executive bodies that ensure the solution of issues of local importance;";

«Article 161. Competence of local self-government bodies

1. The competence of local self-government bodies to manage the supply of irrigation water is established in cases where this issue, as a matter of local importance, is included in the charter of the local community or in another regulatory legal act of the local self-government body.
2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article, the competence of local self-government bodies includes:

— participation in the work of the basin council;

— effective management of irrigation facilities as objects of municipal property;

— financing from the local budget of expenses for solving the problems of supplying irrigation water, as a matter of local importance, including subsidizing the cost of payment for irrigation services;

— coordination with the executive body of local self-government of the cost of payment for irrigation services provided by a water users association or another person in the absence of a water users association.

From this legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic taken only main points. These changes happened in the end of 2021. Here talking about the transition of Water User Associations under the guidance of Ayil Okmoty. The law is signed but still not touch most rural areas. For example Tory-Aygyr WUA work with old system but in Grigoryevka started water reform already. There happened changes with staff, fee etc.

Conclusion

Water User Associations played big role in irrigation life. So long time they faced different problems. Misunderstanding and mistrust between farmers and WUA or Ayil Okmoty and WUA. New reform effected to these two WUAs different. WUA in Grigoryevka village is not agree with new reform. They had some projects which already started and financed by donors but after this reform WUA, donors and farmers could not imagine the future. First changes on Water Code already touched Grigoryevka village.

In Tory-Aygyr situation is different. WUA, farmers and administration are announced orally about changes but there was nothing on documents. So in the present they work on old system where WUA work independently. In this case for WUA is better if they will be under Ayil Ocmoty. Because finance part is poor, and most donors could not finance projects. So, if they will work together it should be advantage for WUA.

References:

1. Sehring, Jenniver 2005: Water User Associations (WUAs) in Kyrgyzstan. A Case Study on Institutional Reform in Local Irrigation Management. (ZEU Discussion Paper No. 24). Giessen.
2. Chemonics International (2003): Kyrgyzstan: An assessment of the development of agricultural initiatives for USAID/CAR, Bishkek/Osh
3. Legislation of Kyrgyz Republic (As amended by the Laws of the Kyrgyz Republic dated March 30, 2013 No. 46, December 10, 2021 No. 151)
4. Water Code of Kyrgyz Republic
5. Chemonics International (2003): Kyrgyzstan: An assessment of the development of agricultural initiatives for USAID/CAR, Bishkek/Osh
6. Herrfahrdt, E. et al. (2006): Water Governance in the Kyrgyz Agricultural Sector: On its way to Integrated Water Resource Management? Bonn: Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE Studies 14)