Adapting Crop Cultivation to Climate and Water Challenges in the Aral Sea Region
In the era of global climate change, adaptive agriculture/crop production is becoming a key factor in the sustainability of agriculture. High temperatures, droughts, and other extreme weather events, which have become more frequent in recent years in the Aral Sea region, require new approaches to crop cultivation. Scientists and agronomists around the world are working to create more resilient and productive crop varieties capable of withstanding these challenges. In this regard, UNDP pays special attention to the introduction of drought-resistant crops, resource-saving practices, including sprinkler and drip irrigation in pilot areas to increase the efficiency of water use, as well as increasing field productivity.
On September 5, to enhance the potential of agricultural production and adaptability of local farmers to climate change in the Aral Sea region, UNDP in Uzbekistan, together with the Karakalpak Research Institute of Agriculture and the Agrarian Scientific Center "Donskoy," conducted a scientific seminar on "Promising varieties and modern technologies for sorghum cultivation in Karakalpakstan" for representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Council of Farmers, homestead owners, the Agro-Services Center of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, research institutes, as well as farmers and dekhkans. The seminar was held in two stages: a discussion of current challenges facing the Aral Sea region in a round table format, and a practical part on field experimental plots of ecological tests to assess the adaptability of new promising sorghum varieties.
Scientists from the ASC "Donskoy" described key changes in agricultural production, noting modern trends in strengthening the adaptive potential of agricultural crops and the state of production, as well as changes in global price trends for grains grown in arid conditions, and directions of breeding programs for drought-resistant crops. They emphasized the need to develop international cooperation to exchange experience and genetic material to accelerate the introduction of adaptive technologies in agricultural production.
UNDP's agricultural expert, Ibrahim Khashtyrov, emphasized the importance and urgency of introducing a number of adaptive agro-technologies, citing as an example the high potential for the Aral Sea region of upland/aerobic rice culture, which has significantly lower requirements for irrigation water (5-6 times less) unlike the traditional rice culture, which until recently was the most widespread and one of the main consumers of irrigation water in the region (25-30 thousand m3/ha), which actually served as the basis for introducing restrictions on rice sowing in the Aral Sea region from 2023.
International researchers also expressed their readiness to cooperate in the field of implementing adaptive agro-technologies, taking into account local specifics. They noted the successful experience of implementing adaptive agro-technologies in various countries, which allowed increasing the efficiency of natural resource use and strengthening food security. In particular, the experience of introducing drought-resistant crops in the southern states of the USA, European countries and Africa, for example, sorghum, and a wide range of products produced from its grain, which emphasizes the high potential of sorghum for the Aral Sea region, including the possibility of expanding the use of sorghum in the food industry and continuing breeding to improve the characteristics of varieties for different uses.
The second stage of the event included a practical part, during which participants visited experimental demonstration sites in the Kegeyli district. Here they familiarized themselves with the results of variety trials conducted by the Karakalpak Research Institute of Agriculture with the support of UNDP in Uzbekistan. The study included ecological testing of promising sorghum varieties and accompanying comprehensive analyses of soil and plant blocks in the fields of the "Seytnazar-Yerzhan" farm. Experts' observations of the growth and development of varieties, as well as records and analyses, will help determine the most adaptive and promising sorghum varieties for local conditions and improve agricultural practices in the region.
Thus, UNDP continues to conduct comprehensive work to increase the adaptability of agriculture in the Aral Sea region to climate change and efficient use of water resources by introducing drought-resistant and less demanding agricultural varieties/crops in terms of water supply conditions, drawing on international experience.