UNDP project provided Lebap and Dashoguz farmers with innovative agro-solution
Under the joint project, UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) held the trainings on laser method of irrigated land leveling in pilot regions of Dyanev in Lebap province and Gerogly in Dashoguz in February and March this year. The events were co-organized by the State Committee of Turkmenistan for environmental protection and land resources.
The training brought together the representatives of local authorities, farmers, engineers, heads of farmers’ associations, tenants, as well as employees of district water management departments - in short, all those are engaged on everyday basis in practical farming and land reclamation.
In conditions of irrigated agriculture and adaptation climate changes, an even field surface is one of the requirements for efficient fertilization, use of water resources, and, consequently, productive soil return. And conversely, the uneven arable land activates the process of soil degradation, leads to water losses during irrigation, complicates the carrying out mechanized land treatment measures.
Therefore, the main task of the trainings was sharing the knowledge and experience in the field of rational land and water use, increasing yields and soil fertility through the introduction of laser leveling instruments in land planning with local agricultural communities.
The UNDP/GEF project “Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan” has purchased for the above-mentioned regions two laser levelling units, which were transferred to the farmers’ associations and were used in the regions for the first time.
In contrast to the traditional levelling operations, which often lack precision, difference of irregularities at the laser method does not exceed 1-3 cm.
What are the advantages of using laser technology in arranging the planting landscape?
First, it is a successful solution in the field of water management: saving valuable irrigation water by an average of 20-25%, reducing irrigation time, and its efficiency increases by 35-40%.
Secondly, improving the quality of the soil: its salinity through irrigation waters is prevented, the quantity of weed is reduced by 10-15%, the quality of fertilizing, plowing and sowing is raising, uptake of natural precipitation is normalized.
And as a result, the steady germination of seeds is achieved, the yield per hectare increases by 5-7 quintals, the cost of products obtained from crops decreases.
Earlier this year the UNDP project held at the project site in Geokdepe the presentation and demonstration of practical application of laser leveller with participation of Uzbek experts. The equipment was procured by UNDP after its successful testing in one of the farmers’ associations of Mary province in accordance with the project implemented with the Adaptation Fund in 2012-2016.
