AKIPRESS.COM - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $30 million grant for Tajikistan to modernize the Yovon irrigation and drainage system in the lower Vakhsh river basin, which will help to boost agricultural productivity and increase opportunities for women in land and water management.

The project will modernize irrigation canals and associated structures, install energy-efficient water pumps, and upgrade drainage structures in the project area. About 6,700 farmers in the Yovon irrigation and drainage system, of whom 12% are female, will benefit from improved water service delivery, energy savings, and climate-smart and disaster-resilient technologies. Around 4,200 kitchen gardens, which are used to cultivate fruits and vegetables and mostly managed by women, will also benefit from the project.

To strengthen management and operation of irrigation and drainage systems, the project will install a supervisory control and data acquisition system at main and branch canals, create a union of water user associations, and develop a cashless payment system for irrigation services. The project will help mainstream gender policies in water users’ associations and in the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation to increase women’s involvement in management and access to services.

The project also includes $1 million in technical assistance to improve operation and maintenance practices and financial management in the irrigation sector.