WORKSHOP Learning Lessons and Development of Sustainable WUAs

WORKSHOP: Learning Lessons and Development of Sustainable WUAs and WUA Federations in the Central Asia and Caucasus Bishkek, 1 -5 October 2007 Experience in WUA Formation and Development in the Republic of Tajikistan

Land Resources and Its Use • • Total Area: 143. 1 thousand square km; Total Available Land: 4 million ha including : Pasture – 78% Arable Land – 17, 8% Perennial Plantings – 2, 4% Deposits and Hayfields – 0, 9% Irrigable Lands – 1, 57 million ha Irrigated Area - 741 thousand ha

Irrigated Lands • In the Republic of Tajikistan there are 741, 200 ha of irrigated area, including 260, 870 ha to grow such strategic crop as cotton, 90, 178 ha for homestead lands of population, 36, 016 ha to organize part-time farms and 350, 630 ha of other lands to grow agricultural crops.

Водные ресурсы. Water Resources № No Наименование Name п/ п 1 1 Rivers Реки 2 2 Объём Storage, Кол-во ресурса Q-ty cubic km куб. км Area, Протяженност Площадь Length, square ь тыс. км кв. км 000’ km km 947 67 67 28, 5 Glaciers Ледники 14509 845 11146 3 3 Lakes Озёра 1300 44 44 705 4 4 Водохранилищ Reservoirs а 9 9 15, 3 (п. о. -7, 63) 664 5 5 Подземные Groundwater воды 18, 7 (э. р. -2, 8) Large rivers: Amu-Darya, Piandj, Zaravshan, Vakhsh, Kafernigan, Bartang, etc. Large glaciers: Fedchenko, 651, 7 square km

Structure of Water Use in the breakdown of Economic Sectors Industry – 4, 5% Irrigation– 84% Economic and Agricultural Water Supply – 8, 5% Fishery – 3%

Concept of Water Resources Rational Use and Protection in the Republic of Tajikistan • Ensure gradual transition to system method of management within hydrographical borders, not administrative units; • Speed up all-round establishment of Water Users Associations; • Introduce water demand management; • Ensure differentiation of water fees and delivery, depending on certain conditions; • Develop different forms of private, collective and joint-stock water consumption based on market water technologies; • Introduction of water-saving technologies, especially, in liftirrigated areas;

Agricultural Reforms ü Agricultural reforms started in 1996 after the President of the Republic of Tajikistan passed a Resolution to distribute 50, 000 ha of irrigated lands to dekhkans (farmers) to cultivate agricultural crops, later on, for such purposes other 25, 000 ha of irrigated lands were allocated in addition. ü In 2000 the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan developed Agricultural Production Reorganization Program providing formation of dekhkan farms, instead of former state and collective farms.

Legal Aspects of WUA Establishment in the Republic of Tajikistan • At present the legal basis of WUA established is provided by the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “About Water Users Associations”, Water Code of the Republic of Tajikistan, Civil Code of the Republic of Tajikistan, Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan No. 281 dd. 25 June 1996 “About Approval of Regulations on Order of Fees Collection for Water Supply Services from government-owned irrigation systems” and other standard and legal acts • New Water Code passed by the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan – the Majilisi Namoyandagon – and approved by the Upper Chamber of the Majilisi Namoyandagon of the Republic of Tajikistan on 20 November 2000 has extended legal frameworks of WUA establishment regulating relations between government-owned water organizations-water suppliers and WUAs and created an opportunity to transfer rights to manage water schemes to special organizations (WUAs).

• Civil Code of the Republic of Tajikistan regulates order of establishment of non-governmental public organizations. WUAs are established within its provisions. • Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan No. 281 dd. 25 June 1996 “About Approval of Regulations on Order of Fees Collection for Water Supply Services from government-owned irrigation systems” regulates economic relations between water organizations and water users. • At the beginning of November 2006 the Parliament of the Republic of Tajikistan passed the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “About Water Users Associations” to regulate legal frameworks of organization, activity and management of WUAs like non-commercial organization to operate and maintain irrigation systems in public interests.

Order of WUA Organization and Legalization • First experience of WUA organization showed that in current public and economic conditions WUAs shall be organized step-by-step. Best results will be achieved when farmers themselves initiate WUA establishment. First of all, farmers-water users need to form an Initiative Group consisting of Water Management Specialist, Economic and other educated and experienced specialists at one of the meetings. • Upon studying experience of establishment of other WUAs, literature and other sources, consulting with specialists, the Initiative Group will develop draft documents necessary to establish WUAs. After preparation work the Initiative Group will convene a General Meeting of water users. • At the first General Meeting of water users the following shall be done: 1. Review and Adoption of the Minutes containing decision to organize a WUA and indicating dekhkan farms-founders, and Approval of the WUA name; 2. Review and Adoption of the WUA Charter and Structure; 3. Election of WUA Board members, Chairman and members of the Audit Commission.

• At the 2 nd Stage the WUA Board prepares and submits all required documents provided by current rules of registration to legalize WUA with the authorized State agency. For legal registration these documents are submitted to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan if the latter locates in the republican subordinate rayons (RSR) and to the Oblast Departments of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan. • After permission of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan is received WUA is registered with the Rayon Notary’s Office, State Statistics Agency, Rayon Tax Inspectorate, Pension Fund and gets permission from agencies of interior affairs to produce its seal and opens a bank account. • After all, WUAs become fully legalized organizations and start carrying out its activities.

Development of WUA Charter and Basic Documents to operate in the Republic of Tajikistan • In 1999 specialists of the Republican Centre of Farms Privatization Support (RCFPS), jointly with specialists of the Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources, developed model WUA Charter reviewed and approved by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. • In order to speed up WUA establishment process the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has charged the Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources with disseminating Model WUA Charter in the rayons of the country. Based on the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan the Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan issued joint Decree (No. 86/34 dd. 20 April 2000) «About Approval Model WUA Charter» .

• The following procedures have been revised and developed while preparing the basic documents for WUAs to function by specialists and consultants of the Republican Centre of Farms Privatization Support under the World bank-funded Farms Privatization Project, considering the current legislation of the Republic of Tajikistan: • • Organization of preparation work prior to WUA establishment; Holding Constituent Assemblies; Legalization of established WUAs; Development of WUA budget; Entering water delivery contracts with the farmers; Disputes resolution; Monitoring of WUA activities. Summary results of 2001 -2002 are developed recommendations on establishment and functioning of WUAs in current economic and legal conditions in the Republic of Tajikistan

Main WUA Tasks: • Reliable operation of irrigation and drainage systems, pumping stations and other irrigation infrastructure; • Planning and carrying out repair and reconstruction works; • Providing for equitable distribution of water among water users; • Entering contracts to abstract water from rayon irrigation systems and deliver to the farmers; • Collection of financial funds from water users to ensure sustainable operation of overall irrigation system.

Information on WUAs established under various programs and projects funded by foreign investments Year of Registration Nos. of WUAs Irrigated Area, ha Kolkhzabadsky, Khuroson, Yavansky, Zafarabadsky, Matchinsky, Rudaki. Shakhrinavsky, Gissarsky Shakhrinavsky, 2000 -2006 50 106623 No Name of the Program or Project Donor WUA Location (rayon) 1. Rural Infrastructure Reconstruction Project World Bank and Farms Privatization Project 2. Agriculture Restoration in the Republic of Tajikistan Asian Development Bank Rasulovsky, Gafurovsky, Bokhtarsky, Vakhshsky, Voseysky, 2004 -2007 20 49015 3. Irrigation Rehabilitation Project in the Republic of Tajikistan Asian Development Bank Ashtsky, Rushansky, Vakhdatsky, Farkhorsky, Pjandjsky, Hamadoni Pjandjsky, 2007 25 31108 4. WUA Support Program USAID Shaartuzky, Kabodiansky, Rudaki 2005 24 12208 5. German Agro Action European Commission Pendjikentsky, Aininsky, Gornaya Matcha, Badjuvansky Matcha, 2005 -2006 20 986 6. Akted European Commission Kanibadamsky, Vakhshsky, Chomi 2005 4 5192 7. Integrated Water Resources Management in the Ferghana Valley Swiss International Co-Operation Agency 2003 1 1050 123 175074 Total Rasulovsky

Performance Indicators of Water Users Associations under Farms Privatization Project as of 31 December 2003

Irrigation Service Fee ü The Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources has established actual cost of water delivery to the gates of farmers’ (dekhkans) farms and other water users, considering sustainable operation of irrigation systems in the country ranging from 2 to 6 Diram/m 3 ü However, according to the Resolution of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan No. 10 dd. 14 June 2007, the Irrigation Service Fee has been established as follows: ü 0, 78 Diram/m 3 in gravity-irrigated areas ü 1, 25 Diram/m 3 in lift-irrigated areas (6 rayons of the Sogd Oblast)

WUA Support Unit within the MMWR RT MMWR Minister Central WUA SU Sector in the Sugd Oblast WUA SU Sector in the Hatlon Oblast WUA SU Sector in the GBAO PIU WUA SU Mobilizer, Rushansky RAYOn WUA SU Mobilizer, Vakhdatsky Rayon WUA SU Mobilizer. ASHT 1 Pjandj Rayon WUA SU Mobilizer, WUA Su Mobilizer, Farkhor Rayon Dj. Rasulovsky Rayon WUA Su Mobilizer, B. Gafurovsky Rayon WUA SU Mobilizer, Vakhsh Rayon WUA SU Mobilizer, Kanibadamsky Rayon WUA SU Mobilizer, Rudaki Rayon WUA SU Mobilizer, Voseysky Rayon 19

WUA SU Tasks Carry out its activities under the direction of the Minister Prepare WUA SU General Strategy Develop WUA SU long-term and annual plans Develop and assist with implementation of WUA Support Program of the MMWR, considering all investment projects and NGO Principles and Guidelines on WUA Establishment and Development Co-ordinate activities to implement the WUA Law to establish and develop WUAs

WUA SU Staff • Central Support Unit, total 5 staff members Head Chief Specialist Driver Secretary • Oblast Support Unit, total 2 staff members Head Leading Specialist • Rayon Support Unit, total 1 staff member • Leading Specialist (Mobilizer) 21

WUA SU Funding • Salary of Central, Oblast and Rayon WUA SU staff members is paid out of collected ISF • Machinery and equipment are also procured out of funds of collected ISF 22

Experience in WUA Federations Establishment • In accordance with the WUA Law, WUAs, in order to co-ordinate fulfillment of its Charter obligations, have the right to establish WUA Federations to act in accordance with the approved Charter. • In 2006 Zafarob WUA Federation was established in the Zafarabad Rayon of the Sogd Oblast and consists of 16 WUAs, total irrigated area 27, 283 ha, of which 7 WUAs were established as pilot under WB-funded Farms Privatization Project and Rural Infrastructure Reconstruction Project. • Main tasks of WUA Federation is to co-ordinate WUA-managed irrigation services and timely ensure water delivery to dekhkans farms, part-time farms from main canals, and organize strict control between WUAs for equitable water distribution within large main canals and separate djamoats. • In the rayon there are more than 2, 000 dekhkans farms. WUA Federation has 20 staff members including 2 Senor Mirabs responsible for 2 large main canals, namely, TM-1 and TM-2. One should note that WUA Federation needs technical support.

Building of Zafarob WUA Federation, Zafarabad Rayon

N. Akhmedov, Mirab, Zafarob WUA Federation, TM-1 Main Canal, Zafarabad Rayon

Proposals on WUA Development in the Republic of Tajikistan Experience in WUA establishment in the Republic of Tajikistan shows that the following is needed to ensure its sustainable operation: 1. 2. 3. 4. On the basis of the Water Code, develop normative documents to transfer and sell water users’ rights so that create water market. During first years of newly established WUAs, ensure government support to be provided in the form of tax remissions and technical support. Improve water price formation system. Water prices should be differentiated, depending on delivery costs, water quality, water supply and benefits from water use. Ensure rapid reformation of collective farms, and establish on their basis dekhkans farms with an area ensuring application of modern efficient technologies; establish on-the-site rental agencies for dekhkans farms and WUAs to rent agricultural and reclamation machinery and provide them with accessible low-percentage bank credits.

• 5. Develop research work aimed at development of optimum models of dekhkans farms and WUAs ensuring efficient use of water and land resources. At that, one need to consider nature and climate conditions in the regions, mentality of rural population, peculiarities of production of various agricultural products on irrigated lands, application of intensive technologies to cultivate agricultural crops and its maximum processing on-the-site, factor of land users’ family and relationship. • 6. Develop and introduce system of training of the farmers, WUA specialists, water and agricultural sector on methods of WUA sustainable functioning, ration water management, organization of repair works, water recording, entering contracts to have various services to be rendered (such as water delivery, credit, research activities and consulting, etc). • 7. Develop and arrange production of and make cheap water recording devices and efficient models of irrigation systems affordable by dekhkans, considering irrigated areas, cultivated crops and requirements of scientific and technological progress in agriculture.