APPLICATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF WATER-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES IN OUR COUNTRY

Аннотация

The article studies irrigation regimes for apple orchards using drip irrigation technology and presents the results. It was found that improving irrigation system components led to increased yields and more efficient use of water resources. The implementation of drip irrigation technology in intensive orchards has been proven to save up to 48% of water resources, 50% of mineral fertilizers, and 30% of fuel and lubricants. Additionally, the irrigation regime matches the water needs of the plants, preventing excess water use, with moisture being concentrated near the plant root zone rather than spreading across the entire field. Keywords: irrigation, drip irrigation, irrigation methods, groundwater, water resources, root, evaporation, water scarcity, water-saving technologies, irrigation rate, limited field moisture capacity (LFMC), salinity, irrigation equipment, vegetation period. In countries around the world, international organizations are developing and implementing necessary measures to prevent and mitigate water scarcity. By 2030, water shortage in Uzbekistan may reach up to 15 billion cubic meters. The majority of the water used in our country originates in neighboring states and flows into Uzbekistan. Only about 15–20% of the total water resources are formed within our borders, depending on annual precipitation levels. Unfortunately, in recent years, a Выпуск журнала №-28 Часть–6_Июнь –2025 23 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT decrease in rainfall across the region has led to reduced water flow in major river basins, as well as in smaller rivers and streams. While just a few years ago the annual water consumption in the country was 60–64 billion cubic meters, today the supply has decreased to 51–53 billion cubic meters. However, thanks to the wise policies of our national leadership in recent years, the situation is being alleviated. Transboundary water resource management among regional countries is now being conducted in a spirit of friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual respect. This approach has enabled the resolution of long-standing issues in the water sector. Uzbekistan continues to actively engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with neighboring countries to ensure the integrated management of shared water resources, including the joint use of transboundary water resources and interstate water infrastructure. Notably, several meetings were held last year, resulting in significant agreements. In Uzbekistan, the annual volume of water used amounts to 52.0 billion cubic meters, of which 41.0 billion cubic meters are formed in neighboring countries, while 11.0 billion cubic meters are generated within the territory of Uzbekistan. When examining water usage across different sectors of the economy: – 90% is used in agriculture, – 4.5% in municipal services, – 4.3% in industry and energy, – and 1.2% in the fisheries sector. According to Resolution No. PQ-5 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated January 5, 2024, key provisions have been outlined to promote the implementation of water-saving technologies. Notably, concessional loans with a reduced interest rate of 14% (instead of the previous 21%) will be allocated through the "suvkredit.uz" platform. For the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region, the interest rate is set at 10%. Importantly, farmers will not be required to provide property collateral to obtain these loans. In terms of subsidies, full (100%) disbursement will be carried out within the same year. Previously, subsidies were paid in two installments—50% in the first year and the remaining 50% in the Выпуск журнала №-28 Часть–6_Июнь –2025 24 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT following year. Regarding construction quality, the aim is to enhance the quality of water-saving technology infrastructure. Contractors will be required to provide a 2- year warranty and ensure maintenance services for 5 years. Additionally, the activities of the "School of Irrigators" will be improved. Alongside water management personnel, district-level responsible leaders, staff, designers, and contractors will also undergo comprehensive training. Between 2017 and 2024, water-saving irrigation technologies were introduced on a large scale in Uzbekistan: drip irrigation was implemented on 560,000 hectares, sprinkler irrigation on 90,000 hectares, and discrete and other advanced methods on 59,000 hectares. Additionally, 1.1 million hectares of land were leveled using laser equipment. According to analyses, the implementation of water-saving technologies has led to a 45–50% reduction in water resource usage, 25–35% savings in fuel, lubricants, and mineral fertilizers, and reduced mechanization service costs, while simultaneously increasing crop yields by 15– 20%. By 2030, the country aims to concrete-line 46% of irrigation canals, equating to 13,200 kilometers, and expand the total area of agricultural land covered by water- saving technologies to 2 million hectares. In 2024, based