Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Jan. 26
By Huseyn Hasanov – Trend:
Water resources management is a defining aspect of the economy and the environment in drought conditions of Turkmenistan, reported the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Irrigated agriculture accounts for 90 percent of the total water consumption supplied by the outdated and energy-intensive infrastructure.
“Furthermore, water management plays a direct role, acting as a cause and a potential solution to the significant and often serious problems associated with land degradation in Turkmenistan,” the UNDP said in its message.
The leitmotif of the UNDP special project lies in the promotion of an integrated approach to water resources management that will become energy efficient and water saving, reduce the root causes of land degradation, improve the living standards of the local population and improve the quality of public services.
The project is aimed at solving the problems of water management, energy consumption, land degradation (soil salinity) and agricultural production through integrated measures.
Turkmenistan is an initiator of the idea on development of the UN Water Strategy.