The Shirinsho Shotemur Tajik Agrarian University has inaugurated a newly renovated hydraulics and water management laboratory. The laboratory had been non-functional for over 30 years but is now equipped with state-of-the-art equipment meeting international standards. Its restoration became possible through the support of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (WoEWR) of Tajikistan and USAID.
The MoEWR and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) opened the updated laboratory titled “Hydraulic Structures, Hydrophysics, Flow Processes, Canals, and Irrigated Fields” at the Agrarian University.
The MoEWR press center says this sectoral research and educational center had been closed for more than three decades. Its revival represents a significant step in developing the research and educational base in water management. The laboratory is now equipped with advanced equipment enabling students, postgraduates, and doctoral candidates to conduct research and practical training in areas such as hydraulics, hydrometry, hydraulic engineering, mechanics, potable water supply, agriculture, and land reclamation.
University representatives stated that the laboratory’s restoration will strengthen the country’s scientific potential and help students and young scientists develop practical skills. This, in turn, will contribute to the sustainable management of water resources and reclamation systems, which are vital for the country’s economy and food security.
The modernization of the laboratory was achieved through the installation of high-tech equipment that meets global standards. The facility now includes workstations for research, hydraulic process modeling, and experimental work, essential for improving irrigation systems and water resource management. Additionally, the laboratory will serve as a platform for collaborative scientific projects with international partners and for training future specialists capable of addressing contemporary challenges in the sector.
This project not only enhances the educational capabilities of the Hydraulic and Land Reclamation Faculty but also boosts the competitiveness of the Tajik Agrarian University as a scientific center in the region.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Qurbon Hakimzoda; the Chairman of the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management, Sulton Rahimzoda; the First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Jamshed Shoimzoda; the USAID Mission Director in Tajikistan, John Riordan; as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, university leadership, faculty members, and leading experts in the field.
Speaking at the event, the First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Jamshed Shoimzoda, emphasized the laboratory’s significance in the context of Tajikistan’s National Water Strategy until 2040.
“One of the key goals of the strategy is to ensure scientific, technical, and human resource support for the water sector. The modernization of this laboratory creates the necessary conditions for training highly qualified specialists who will be in demand both in Tajikistan and abroad,” he noted.
