Systematic Review: Analysis of Scientific Research on Water Resource Management in Uzbekistan
Keywords:
Uzbekistan, water resource management, irrigation, transboundary waters, climate change, institutional reforms, water policy, systematic review.Abstract
This article presents a systematic analysis of scientific research conducted in the field of water resource management in Uzbekistan between 2003 and 2024. Key areas of focus include improving the efficiency of water supply and irrigation systems, institutional reforms, transboundary water issues, the impact of climate change on water resources, and socio-economic approaches to water governance. The study classifies existing literature based on academic articles, research reports, and practical assessments, identifying major approaches and research gaps. The results reveal that research on innovative technologies, digitalization, and the behavioral and motivational aspects of water users remains underdeveloped. The article concludes with recommendations for priority areas in future research.
Downloads
References
1. Abbink, K., Moller, L. C., & O'Hara, S. (2010). Sources of mistrust: An experimental case study of a Central Asian water conflict. Environmental and Resource Economics, 45(2), 283–318.
2. Saydullayev, A., & Khudoyberdiev, D. (2024). The impact of agricultural production on food security in Uzbekistan in the coming years. YASHIL IQTISODIYOT VA TARAQQIYOT, 2(11).
3. Abdolvand, B., Mez, L., Winter, K., Schütt, B., & Rost, K. T. (2015). The dimension of water in Central Asia: Security concerns and the long road of capacity building. Environmental Earth Sciences, 73(2), 897–912.
4. Abdullaev, I., & Rakhmatullaev, S. (2015). Transformation of water management in Central Asia: From state-centric, hydraulic mission to socio-political control. Environmental Earth Sciences, 73(2), 849–861.
5. Abdullaev, I., Kazbekov, J., Manthritilake, H., & Jumaboev, K. (2009). Participatory water management at the main canal: A case from South Ferghana canal in Uzbekistan. Agricultural Water Management, 96(2), 317–329.
6. Abou Zaki, N., Kløve, B., & Torabi Haghighi, A. (2022). Expanding the irrigated areas in the MENA and Central Asia: Challenges or opportunities? Water Switzerland, 14(16), Article 2560.
7. Aminova, M., & Abdullayev, I. (2009). Water management in a state-centered environment: Water governance analysis of Uzbekistan. Sustainability, 1(4), 1240–1265.
8. Awan, U. K., Tischbein, B., & Martius, C. (2013). Combining hydrological modeling and GIS approaches to determine the spatial distribution of groundwater recharge in an arid irrigation scheme. Irrigation Science, 31(4), 793–806.
9. Awan, U. K., Tischbein, B., Martius, C., Lamers, J. P., & Kamalov, P. (2011). Improving irrigation water operation in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya River - current status and suggestions. Irrigation and Drainage, 60(5), 600–612.
10. Bekchanov, M., Karimov, A., & Lamers, J. P. A. (2010). Impact of water availability on land and water productivity: A temporal and spatial analysis of the case study region Khorezm, Uzbekistan. Water Switzerland, 2(3), 668–684.
11. Bezborodov, G. A., Shadmanov, D. K., Mirhashimov, R. T., Noble, A. D., & Qadir, M. (2010). Mulching and water quality effects on soil salinity and sodicity dynamics and cotton productivity in Central Asia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 138(1-2), 95–102.
12. Brody, M., Golub, A., & Eshchanov, B. (2020). Approaches to optimize Uzbekistan's investment in irrigation technologies. Ekonomicheskaya Politika, 2020(2), 136–147.
13. Chathuranika, I., Khaniya, B., Rathnayake, U., Neupane, K., & Rustamjonovich, K. M. (2022). Implementation of water-saving agro-technologies and irrigation methods in agriculture of Uzbekistan on a large scale as an urgent issue. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 8(5), Article 155.
14. Conrad, C., Kaiser, B. O., & Lamers, J. P. A. (2016). Quantifying water volumes of small lakes in the inner Aral Sea Basin, Central Asia, and their potential for reaching water and food security. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75(11), Article 952.
15. Crootof, A., Scott, J., Mullabaev, N., Nishonov, B., & Lamers, J. P. A. (2015). Hydroecological condition and potential for aquaculture in lakes of the arid region of Khorezm, Uzbekistan. Journal of Arid Environments, 117, 37–46.
16. Dadabaev, T. (2016). Water resource management in Central Asia: A Japanese attempt to promote water resource efficiency. Journal of Comparative Asian Development, 15(1), 64–90.
17. De Keyser, J., Wagner, B., Habersack, H., Karimov, B., & Karimov, E. (2023). Integrating open-source datasets to analyze the transboundary Water–Food–Energy–Climate Nexus in Central Asia. Water Switzerland, 15(19), Article 3482.
18. Djanibekov, U., & Finger, R. (2018). Agricultural risks and farm land consolidation process in transition countries: The case of cotton production in Uzbekistan. Agricultural Systems, 164, 223–235.
19. Djanibekov, U., Khamzina, A., Djanibekov, N., & Lamers, J. P. A. (2012). How attractive are short-term CDM forestations in arid regions? The case of irrigated croplands in Uzbekistan. Forest Policy and Economics, 21, 108–117.
20. Djumaboev, K., Anarbekov, O., Gafurov, Z., Hamidov, A., & Tussupova, K. (2017). Impact of institutional change on irrigation management: A case study from southern Uzbekistan. Water Switzerland, 9(6), Article 419.
21. Dukhovny, V., Umarov, P., Yakubov, H., & Madramootoo, C. A. (2007). Drainage in the Aral Sea basin. Irrigation and Drainage, 56(S1), S91–S100.
22. Fang, K., Wang, S., He, J., Fang, C., & Jia, X. (2021). Mapping the environmental footprints of nations partnering the Belt and Road Initiative. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 164, Article 105068.
23. Forkutsa, I., Sommer, R., Martius, C., Tischbein, B., & Vlek, P. L. G. (2009). Modeling irrigated cotton with shallow groundwater in the Aral Sea Basin of Uzbekistan: II. Soil salinity dynamics. Irrigation Science, 27(4), 319–330.
24. Froebrich, J. (2005). Enhanced reservoir operation - Concept for improving water quality and water management in water stressed areas (a comparison and synthesis from case studies in Central Asia and North-Africa). International Agricultural Engineering Journal, 14(4), 147–160.
25. Gafforov, K. S., Bao, A., Liu, T., Duulatov, E., & Rakhimov, S. (2020). The assessment of climate change on rainfall-runoff erosivity in the Chirchik-Akhangaran Basin, Uzbekistan. Sustainability Switzerland, 12(8), Article 3369.
26. Giese, E., Sehring, J., & Trouchine, A. (2004). Interstate conflicts about water use in Middle Asia. Geographische Rundschau, 56(10), 10–16.
27. Groll, M., Opp, C., Kulmatov, R., Ikramova, M., & Normatov, I. (2015). Water quality, potential conflicts and solutions—an upstream–downstream analysis of the transnational Zarafshan River (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan). Environmental Earth Sciences, 73(2), 743–763.
28. Gulakhmadov, A., Chen, X., Gulahmadov, N., Rizwan, M., & Anjum, M. N. (2020). Simulation of the potential impacts of projected climate change on streamflow in the Vakhsh River Basin in Central Asia under CMIP5 RCP Scenarios. Water Switzerland, 12(5), Article 1426.
29. Hafeez, M., & Awan, U. K. (2022). Viewpoint: Irrigation water management in a space age. Irrigation and Drainage, 71(S1), 39–50.
30. Hill, A. F., Wilson, A. M., Minbaeva, C. K., & Satylkanov, R. (2017). Hydrologic controls and water vulnerabilities in the Naryn River Basin, Kyrgyzstan: A socio-hydro case study of water stressors in Central Asia. Water Switzerland, 9(5), Article 325.
31. Howard, K. W. F., & Howard, K. K. (2016). The new “Silk Road Economic Belt” as a threat to the sustainable management of Central Asia’s transboundary water resources. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75(11), Article 976.
32. Jalilov, S.-M., Ward, F. A., & Amer, S. A. (2013). Reducing conflict in development and allocation of transboundary rivers. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 54(1), 78–109.
33. Karimov, A., Smakhtin, V., Mavlonov, A., & Gracheva, I. (2010). Water 'banking' in Fergana valley aquifers-A solution to water allocation in the Syrdarya river basin? Agricultural Water Management, 97(10), 1461–1468.
34. Kasymov, U., & Hamidov, A. (2017). Comparative analysis of nature-related transactions and governance structures in pasture use and irrigation water in Central Asia. Sustainability Switzerland, 9(9), Article 1633.
35. Khasanov, S., Li, F., Sultonov, K., Kholov, N., & Chen, G. (2023). Impact assessment of soil salinity on crop production in Uzbekistan and its global significance. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 342, Article 108262.
36. Kulmatov, R., Taylakov, A., & Khasanov, S. (2024). GIS approach for the evaluation of water resources quality indicators of the Aydar-Arnasay Lakes System in Uzbekistan. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 10(1), Article 36.
37. Libert, B., Orolbaev, E., & Steklov, Y. (2009). Playing it safe in Central Asia. International Water Power and Dam Construction, 61(11), 14–16.
38. Ma, Y., Li, Y. P., Zhang, Y. F., Ding, Y. K., & Huang, G. H. (2022). Planning water-food-ecology nexus system under uncertainty: Tradeoffs and synergies in Central Asia. Agricultural Water Management, 266, Article 107549.
39. Malsy, M., aus der Beek, T., & Flörke, M. (2015). Evaluation of large-scale precipitation data sets for water resources modelling in Central Asia. Environmental Earth Sciences, 73(2), 787–799.
40. Matyakubov, B. (2003). How efficient irrigation can ensure water supply in the Lower Amudarya basin of Uzbekistan. International Water and Irrigation, 23(3), 26–27.
41. Matyakubov, U., Filimonau, V., & Ermolaev, V. A. (2022). The (de)motives to conserve the environment among small independent hotels in a resource scarce destination. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality and Tourism, 23(6), 1596–1622.
42. Mukhammadiev, M. M., & Dzhuraev, K. S. (2020). Justification of the energy and economic parameters of pumped storage power plants in Uzbekistan. Applied Solar Energy (English Translation of Geliotekhnika), 56(3), 227–232.
43. Rakhmatullaev, S., Bakiev, M., Huneau, F., Celle-Jeanton, H., & Motelica-Heino, M. (2013). Water reservoirs, irrigation and sedimentation in Central Asia: A first-cut assessment for Uzbekistan. Environmental Earth Sciences, 68(4), 985–998.
44. Rakhmatullaev, S., Bakiev, M., Huneau, F., Le Coustumer, P., & Motelica-Heino, M. (2010). Facts and perspectives of water reservoirs in Central Asia: A special focus on Uzbekistan. Water Switzerland, 2(2), 307–320.
45. Rakhmatullaev, S., Huneau, F., Le Coustumer, P., Motelica-Heino, M., & Hrkal, Z. (2010). Groundwater resources use and management in the Amu Darya River Basin (Central Asia). Environmental Earth Sciences, 59(6), 1183–1193.
46. Reddy, J. M., Jumaboev, K., Matyakubov, B., & Eshmuratov, D. (2013). Evaluation of furrow irrigation practices in Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan. Agricultural Water Management, 117, 133–144.
47. Różkowski, J., & Rzętała, M. (2021). Uzbekistan’s aquatic environment and water management as an area of interest for hydrology and thematic tourism. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 12(3), 642–653.
48. Soliev, I., Wegerich, K., & Kazbekov, J. (2015). The costs of benefit sharing: Historical and institutional analysis of shared water development in the Ferghana Valley, the Syr Darya Basin. Water Switzerland, 7(6), 2728–2752.
49. Wang, M., Chen, X., Demaeyer, P., Sidike, A., & Cao, L. (2021). Optimal allocation of surface water resources at the provincial level in the Uzbekistan region of the Amudarya River Basin. Water Switzerland, 13(11), Article 1446.
50. Wang, X., Chen, Y., Fang, G., & Li, Z. (2022). The growing water crisis in Central Asia and the driving forces behind it. Journal of Cleaner Production, 378, Article 134574.
51. Wang, X., Chen, Y., Li, Z., Fang, G., & Wang, Y. (2020). Development and utilization of water resources and assessment of water security in Central Asia. Agricultural Water Management, 240, Article 106297.
52. Webber, H. A., Madramootoo, C. A., Bourgault, M., Horst, M. G., & Stulina, G. (2006). Water use efficiency of common bean and green gram grown using alternate furrow and deficit irrigation. Agricultural Water Management, 86(3), 259–268.
53. Zhang, Y. F., Li, Y. P., Huang, G. H., & Ma, Y. (2021). A copula-based stochastic fractional programming method for optimizing water-food-energy nexus system under uncertainty in the Aral Sea basin. Journal of Cleaner Production, 292, Article 126037.
54. Zhupankhan, A., Tussupova, K., & Berndtsson, R. (2017). Could changing power relationships lead to better water sharing in Central Asia? Water Switzerland, 9(2), Article 139.
55. Zinzani, A., & Bichsel, C. (2018). IWRM and the politics of scale: Rescaling water governance in Uzbekistan. Water Switzerland, 10(3), Article 281.
