Kazakhstan to receive water use loan from the IBRD

The Kazakhstan government has signed a $102.9m loan agreement with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to support water use and the modernisation of its irrigation infrastructure.

The loan agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bakyt Sultanovon behalf of the government, and IBRD country manager for Kazakhstan Sebnem Akkaya.

The loan will support the country’s seven-year Second Irrigation and Drainage Project (IDIP-2), a key pillar of the Kazakhstan Green Economy Concept. The project will improve irrigation and the delivery of drainage services in an area of more than 100,000ha to ensure timely and adequate water supply to farmers. It will help to save 300 million cubic metres of incremental irrigation water annually.

The project also aims to improve the participation of water users in developing regions and manage the modernised systems in South Kazakhstan’s densely populated regions, including Almaty, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl oblasts.

Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bakhyt Sultanov said: "Funds allocated for this project will help improve socio-economic and environmental conditions for the population residing in transboundary river basins in the most densely populated regions of the country."

Kazakhstan World Bank country manager Sebnem Akkaya said that the bank will support the new project to provide better irrigation systems, community support, and technology, thus increasing water productivity, minimising losses, and increasing yields.

"Better use and management of irrigation infrastructure will help develop the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan to the benefit of the national economy and rural people," Akkaya added.