Mirziyoyev Reviews Program for Digitalization of Water Management

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 13 October, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the digitalization of water management, improvement of water resource governance at the local level, and enhancement of the sector’s investment attractiveness for the private sector.

The country operates over 50,000 kilometers of irrigation networks, 1,600 pumping stations, and more than 10,000 hydraulic structures. In recent years, systemic measures have been taken to reform water management, modernize irrigation infrastructure, and increase water use efficiency. At the same time, challenges remain at the lower levels of the system, requiring a comprehensive approach—primarily in improving service quality, transparency of calculations, and the financial stability of organizations.

The presentation outlined measures to further deepen digitalization processes and improve sector governance mechanisms. Through the “Suv hisobi” information platform, precise accounting of water usage will be implemented, with data subsequently delivered electronically to consumers. The system will minimize human error, reduce paperwork, and increase the efficiency of resource utilization.

To ensure data relevance, integration with the “Digital Agriculture” platform will be established, allowing automatic updates on irrigated lands, crop types, and water limits. Additionally, a Digitalization and Monitoring Center will be established under the Ministry of Water Management, consolidating all sectoral data, analyzing water balance, pump station operations, and water consumption, thereby supporting automated management decision-making.

Going forward, the digitalization of the sector will be overseen by a dedicated deputy minister responsible for implementing modern digital solutions. A “State Water Cadastre” information system is also being created to consolidate water resource data from various agencies into a single database, facilitating information exchange and reducing paper reporting. Full system launch is scheduled for April 2026.

Special attention is being paid to improving water delivery at the local level. Flexible staffing management systems with KPI-based performance evaluation will be implemented. From 2026, employee incentives will be directly linked to practical results—the ratio of water delivered to the volume reaching end consumers. To enhance financial independence, institutions will be able to allocate 40 percent of water tax revenues to strengthen their own material and technical base.

The practice of public-private partnerships in managing pumping stations is expanding. In 2026, 50 percent of pumping stations in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Navoiy, Namangan, Samarkand, and Syrdarya regions are planned to be transferred to private partners, and by 2027, all pumping stations in Namangan region will be included. In the Chartak district of Namangan region, the “Chartak Experience” project will be implemented on a “one pumping station—one system” principle, where a private partner will ensure water supply within limits, and 40 percent of the water tax collected from areas assigned to the pumps will be used for automation and modernization of stations.

To explain the project to farmers, the “Water Managers School” educational initiative will be implemented. In 2025–2026, demonstration fields will be established in each district, covering a total of 3,500 hectares across 141 districts.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed the acceleration of sector digitalization, full automation of accounting and reporting, improvement of local service efficiency, expansion of public-private partnerships, and strengthening of employee accountability. At the conclusion of the meeting, the head of state signed the relevant documents.