Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Turkmenistan's Agriculture Ministry will construct water reservoirs on the Gozganchay River.

According to a decision of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, the water reservoirs will be built in the Kaahka district of the Akhal province and in Kunya Urgench district of the Dashoguz province.

Water management equipment will be supplied by the Turkmen Enjam business entity. The equipment is also designed for the development of new irrigated lands with a total area of 25,000 hectares in the Altyn Asyr district of the Akhal province.

A transaction has been made to implement a program of social and economic development for 2012-2016, as well as to improve the cultural and economic efficiency of Turkmenistan's agricultural sector.

Turkmenistan grows cotton, corn, rice and sugar beet. In recent years, the country has been increasing capacities for the production of fertilizers. Turkmenistan is also actively purchasing agricultural machinery from the U.S. and Belarus in the framework of substantial reform in the agricultural sector.

According to Turkmen media, in the period of spring floods the Turkmen water sector enterprises start work on accumulation of water in various artificial reservoirs of the country.

The reservoir "15 Years of Independence of Turkmenistan" located in the southeast part of the Lebap province accumulates water stock from Amu Darya River for uninterrupted supply of water to the rural economy of the country in spring and summer seasons.

This reserve is intended to meet the growing needs for water of the irrigated agriculture of the country, taking into account the development and cultivation of new lands. In addition, the reservoir acts as a regulator of the river flow, ensuring the normal passage of water through the Karakum River to the south-western regions of the country.

The reservoir will be able to accumulate more than 3 billion cubic meters of water. It is also planned to build the first hydraulic complex with the capacity of 2.2 billion cubic meters of water.

The bowls of the Hauzhan, Mammetkel and Saryyazyn reservoirs are being expanded. The Saryyazyn reservoir is located on the Murgab River while the Mammetkel reservoir is in the Balkan province. The Hauzhan reservoir plays a special role in the functioning of the hydraulic system of the Karakum River.

The current arrangements on efficient management of winter and spring flood waters, including large amounts of water flowing down from the slopes of the Kopetdag Mountains, will significantly increase water supply to the Turkmen agricultural industry.