TRANFORMED STATE AGRICULTURAL FARMS: CHARACTERISTRICS AND INVOLVEMENT IN

WATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES

A CASE STUDY FROM UZBEKISTAN

AYSE KUDATSOCIAL ASSESSMENT

2001

As part of the social assessment for the proposed rehabilitation of the pumping cascade, a mail-in survey was prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and with the local administration in Karshi. There are 92 shirkats in the impact area.

The local administration forwarded the mail survey to all of these shirkats, receiving back 76 completed responses.

Of these, 16 were in Kasan, 17 in Nishan, 13 in Kasbi, and about 7-8 each in Boharistan, Karshi, Mubarek and Usman-Yusupov.

Results of shirkat survey indicated low willingnessof the administrations to respond to issues of lease

conditions, revenues and expenditures

The findings of the shirkat survey pointed to the inadequate supply of irrigation water, attributed primarily to the low availability of water in the main canal. There was clear support for the rehabilitation of the pumping cascade. Many shirkats believed that having a more regular and adequate water in the Karshi main canal would be a major step in the right direction; other improvements were also suggested. About a fourth of all measures suggested to enhance farm productivity also focused on irrigation.

Shirkats have a high need for improved irrigation water supply

The survey also points to the need for a multi-sectoral approach to improve farm incomes. Clearly, the dissatisfaction with the drainage system far exceeds the dissatisfaction with the irrigation system. Of particular interest is the wish of the shirkats to improve the distribution of water among users so that potential conflicts are avoided and up-stream communities do not enjoy unjustifiable levels of benefits. Improved management, including crop rotation, lease terms, prices, etc., is also a felt need. Improved agricultural technology and better farm equipment are also included among the suggestions for enhanced farm profitability.

Shirkats need drainage system improvements

The large-size shirkats (as measured by the size of their irrigated areas), spend even less for irrigation and drainage. This is explained by the higher quality of their canals, which have lining and are better equipped hydrologically. Small and medium-sized shirkats, in particular those that have emerged from kolkhozes and are located in the old irrigation zone have unlined canals requiring additional expenditures for their maintenance.

Shirkats spend little on maintenance

A majority of the shirkats (64) emerged from the former sovkhozes, 6 shirkats from kolkhozes, and 6 shirkats from other agricultural enterprises. In nearly 80 percent of the cases, the former organization was renamed as a shirkat. In

about 5 percent of the cases, two separate shirkats emerged from one state farm and another 10 percent of the former farms were divided into 3 separate shirkats. Over 90 percent of irrigated lands are concentrated in medium and

large-sized shirkats with the average irrigated area of 3,000 and 5,000 ha respectively.

The total land area of shirkats Shirkat size, measured by irrigated are in (hectares)

Number of shirkats

Average irrigated area (ha)

Average area of dry land (ha)

Average pasture area (ha)

Average area occupied by infrastructure (ha)

Average uncultivated area (ha)

Less than 2.000

15 1.303 883 5,595 235 853

2.000 - 4.000 44 2.984 716 1,210 422 275

Over 4.000 17 4.948 334 1,060 505 267

TOTAL 76 3.092 634 2,100 404 366

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

hectares

Over 80 percent of irrigated lands are leased out by shirkats; 71 percent of the total leased is leased on family contracts. The area of irrigated land leased on family contracts averages 2,200 ha per shirkat for all types of shirkats.

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

hectaresShirkat size (irrigated are in hectares)

Average area of leased land

Private farmers Family contractors

Less than 2.000 263 1.087

2.000 - 4.000 766 2.355

Over 4.000 1.639 2.808

TOTAL 877 2.194

Distribution of irrigated shirkat lands among different categories of agricultural producers

A typical shirkat entered into contractual relations with 197 farmers on average. Most shirkats, however, established 184 contracts (as measured by the median). Most of the shirkat lands were given to shirkat members (family contractors). The average size of plots leased by a family is 11 ha in all types of shirkats, and ranges from 10 ha in small and large-sized shirkats up to 12 in medium-sized shirkats .

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Shirkat size (irrigated are in hectares)

Average number of families on contracts

Average land plot size leased by one family (hectares)

Less than 2,000 114 10

2,000-4,000 191 12

Over 4,000 a 287 10

Average 197 11

The number of families leasing land and the average plot size

The average area of land leased out to private farmers is 877 ha or 28 percent per of the lands of a typical shirkat, and it varies from 263 ha in small-sized shirkats up to 1,639 ha in large-sized ones. The area of irrigated lands leased by dehkan farms, as well as lands being otherwise leased, is less than 5 percent.

Lease Incomes

The inquiries concerning lease terms were unanswered by the great majority of shirkats; some did not answer any of the questions while others answered only a few. It seemed that the managers were unwilling to respond and the particularities of actual practices diverged from the policies that guided them .

Shirkat size (irrigated are in hectares)

Lease incomes per shirkat in 2000 (monthly average)

 

 Cash-sums

In kind (centners)  

Wheat Cotton

Less than 2,000 2.174 488 828

2,000 - 4,000 17.012 2.008 2.405

Over 4,000 5.417 2.070 7.774

Average for all shirkats 11.689 1.695 2.746

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Shirkat size (irrigated are in hectares)

Annual expenditures

Total expenditure

Total average expenditures per hectare

Wages Other expenditures

Total

Office and management personnel

Total

Including

Irrigation

Drainage

Equipmt.

Land / water tax

Energy

Transport

Less than 2,000

107,876.3 82.8 50,569

.4 2,503.4 57,306.9

5,981.9 1,800.0 1,574.0 8,292.

67,415.4

22,870.3

2,000-4,000

157,752.5 52.6 74,125

.9 2,454.7 83,626.6

8,578.9 4,093.1 2,408.0 6,100 4,676

.534,878.8

Over 4,000

174,111.1 35.2 84,684

.3 3,848.4 89,426.8

4,656.1 1,800.7 1,866.0 9,517.

54,724.0

45,590.4

TOTAL 150.688.2 48.2 71,567

.4 2,765.0 79,120.8

7,052.0 3,259.0 2,178.7 7,243.

05,207.0

35,016.0

Shirkat Expenditures

Expenditures for maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems constitute a less than significant part of shirkats' total expenditures

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Length of the irrigation networks in different districts

IncludingDistricts

Total averagelength ofirrigation canalsper shirkat

Main canals Inter-shirkat canals Intra-shirkat canals

Bakhoriston 50.3 - 8.7 41.6Karshi 179.3 5.7 10.3 163.3Kasan 185.3 8.0 14.9 162.4Kasbi 100.3 5.0 12.9 82.4Muborak 164.2 5.0 41.0 118.2Nishan 85.9 1.0 8.7 69.1Usman-Yusupov 146.2 11.0 8.6 126.6

kilometers

Total length of irrigation canals per shirkat average 131 km, including 110 km of intra-shirkat networks. The length of irrigation networks per shirkat varies from 67 km in small-sized shirkats to 173 km in large-sized ones.

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

kilometers

Average length of irrigation canals and expenditures for their maintenance in shirkats

Expenditures forirrigation system per yearShirkat size

(irrigated area inhectares)

Average total lengthof irrigation canalsper shirkat (km) Total

(sum)per sums/km

less than 2,000 67 5,982 902,000 - 4,000 138 8,579 62over 4,000 173 4,656 27Average 131 7,052 54

In small-sized shirkats irrigation maintenance expenditures were 90 sums per km, and 62 sums per km in medium-sized shirkats. In large-sized shirkats, total expenditures were 4,600 sums per shirkat and 27 sums per km. Over 60 percent of all shirkats assess the condition of irrigation system as satisfactory. In small-sized shirkats this percentage is higher (77 percent).

Expenditures for irrigation system maintenance in 2000

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Districts Average annual expenditures(sums)

Bakhoriston 7,500Karshi 7,652Kasan 1,535Kasbi 7,071Muborak 4,657Nishan 1,005Usman-Yusupov 3,215

Only in a half of the shirkats did the water received by the shirkats fulfill 80 to 100 percent of their needs; in others there was inadequate water. The main reason was the insufficient supply of water into the canal; nearly half of the shirkats believed this to be the case. Besides that, representatives of small and medium-sized shirkats believed that the water was inadequate because it was taken by other shirkats. About 20 percent of responding shirkats reported that water was insufficient because of lack of pump or its disrepair.

Expenditures for irrigation system maintenance in 2000

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Percentage of shirkatsNo water in canals as little water is supplied from the Karshi Main Canal 45.5No water in canals as it is taken by other shirkats and water does not reach ourshirkat

10.4

There is water in the canal, but pumps are out of order and no money to repairthem, or pump capacity is insufficient, or no pumps at all

13

No canals around shirkat 2.6Other 27.3

It is important to note that there was a relatively high evaluation of the quality of irrigation infrastructure; 44 shirkats assessed the condition of irrigation system to be satisfactory and 25 shirkats as unsatisfactory

In contrast with the irrigation systems, over 76 percent of the shirkats assess the condition of drainage systems as unsatisfactory. Despite that the expenditures for drainage system maintenance are much lower than the expenditures for irrigation system maintenance.

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Expenditures for drainagesystem per yearShirkat size

(irrigated are inhectares)

Average totallength of drainagesystem per shirkat(km) Total (sums) Per sums/km

Less than 2,000 62 1,800 29

2,000 - 4,000 78 4,093 53

Over 4,000 138 1,807 13

Average 88 3,259 38

Length of drainage system and expenditures for its maintenance in shirkats

Districts Total length ofdrainagecollectors

Including

Main collectors Inter-shirkatcollectors

Intra-shirkatcollectors

Bakhoriston 89.7 20.0 18.5 50.7

Karshi 83.8 4.5 19.3 60.0Kasan 135.0 9.0 11.7 114.3Kasbi 60.9 20.0 13.4 27.5Muborak 82.4 25.0 17.6 39.8Nishan 68.3 3.0 14.6 50.7Usman-Yusupov 71.5 10,6 16.1 44.8

Length of drainage system in different districts

Drainage expenditures varied by district; the variations do not necessarily reflect the conditions of the drainage infrastructure

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Shirkat expenditures for drainage system maintenance

DistrictsAverage expenditures fordrainage system maintenancein 2000, sums

Bakhoriston 5,738Karshi 1,500Kasan 1,193Kasbi 503Muborak 1,000Nishan 2,228Usman-Yusupov 2,100

Shirkats were also asked whether they operated profitably or not. More than half (58 percent) mentioned that they were not profitable, with very few not responding to the question. They were also asked what specific measures were needed to enhance their

profitability and productivity. Most of shirkat chairpersons think that measures for increasing shirkat productivity should be associated with enhancement of water

distribution and reconstruction of drainage system.

Source: Shirkat Survey, Karshi SA. July 2001

Measures for increasing productivity of shirkats

Measures Number ofresponses

Percentageof proposals

To increase state purchasing prices 7 4.9Long-term lease 2 1,4Subsidies for agriculture 16 11,2

Land Improvements 32 22,4Irrigation maintenance and/or reconstruction 15 10,4Improvement of agricultural technology and new equipment 23 16,1Better water resources management 5 3,5Enhanced knowledge of shirkat members 13 9,1Crop rotation 6 4,2