DUSHANBE, May 26, 2011, Asia-Plus – According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the U.S. Government through the Water User Association Support Program (WUASP) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) donated a wheeled excavator to the Federation of Water Users Associations “Sarob” in Qubodiyon district of Khatlon province.
Country Director for USAID/Tajikistan Jeffrey Lehrer, Deputy Chairman of Qubodiyon District Ziyodali Ergashev, Head of Water Users Associations Support Department of the Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources Ismat Eshmirzoyev, representatives of water users associations , and WUASP staff participated in a handover ceremony on May 24.
In 2010, six WUAs in Qubodiyon met to consider how a Federation of Water Users Associations could manage and operate its irrigation system. This idea was supported by USAID/WUASP, which assisted in organizing the “Sarob” Federation, registered on November 5, 2010. After conducting a long-term assessment and meetings with the Federation, USAID agreed to provide a wheeled excavator to maintain canal and drainage systems.
WUASPs assist Tajik farmers in improving irrigation water management, contributing to increased crop production. The success of this program has encouraged other WUAs and water users to become more active and coordinate more closely.
The project organized and supported 52 WUAs and 4 FWUAs located in Roudaki, Vahdat, Qubodiyon, Jilikul, Qumsangir, Shahritous, Zafarobod, Rushan, Roshtqala, and Spitamen districts.
Through USAID grants under WUASP, 31 offices were built and furnished, 761 water distribution gates were rehabilitated, 170 km of canals and 160 km of drainages were cleaned, 3 tractor backhoes were given to WUAs, and 1.3 km of new canals were built. In response to Tajikistan’s food security needs during the severe winter of 2007-2008, USAID through the WUASP imported and distributed 600 tons of wheat seed and 660 tons of fertilizer to Tajik farmers. The handover ceremony marked the final phase of WUASP’s successful implementation.
The Water Users Association Support Program is one of the many development projects made possible by the American people through USAID. Since 1992 the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided more than $984 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.
