BACKGROUND
Uzbekistan is struggling with its ‘transition economy’ from more centralized Soviet type to a free market economy. Wheat and cotton are the main agricultural crops cultivated under a massive irrigated system. The government has a “mandatory quota” system for growing these two crops, which to a certain extent hold the free expansion of agriculture. Irrigation water supply is free while other inputs too are subsidized to different extents.
On one hand owning a massive deteriorating irrigation system and water scarcity related problems, and on the other actively controlling agriculture, Uzbek government is trying to facilitate the economic growth, particularly rural livelihoods. In view of the already stressed water resources, what are possible options for agricultural production? What are the trade-offs between rural livelihoods, food and cash crop production and consequences of intensive exploitation of water resources? Should the Uzbek government invest in irrigation or rain fed agriculture? In food or cotton production?

The answers to these seemingly straightforward questions are highly uncertain.  Some factors are beyond direct control such as climate and natural disasters. But choices in agricultural and economic policy made by decision makers, and the consequent actions by stakeholders, highly influence water and food. To show the very different outcomes that policy and investment choices produce, the Policy Dialogue Model (PODIUM) was developed.

The PODIUM model is designed to provide a user-friendly interface for policy makers, scientists and others to interact in developing alternative water scenarios using a consistent framework of data and analysis. Because of its flexible, transparent structure and user-friendly interface, it enables policymakers and stakeholders to explore scenarios and analyze the complex interplay of the many variables that determine water supply and demand. It was successfully developed for global analysis and for country specific analysis in India and China. This project will adapt the model to the Uzbek specific context.  

The Scientific Information Centre (SIC) of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of IFAS will undertake this study with the help of IWMI (Central Asia, India and HQ).

• To investigate the food and water security policy options for Uzbekistan using PODIUM as a tool
• To assess capacity of PODIUM to analyze above mentioned objectives on the base of PODIUM modeling tools and data base of CAREWIB

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. Establish the current status of agricultural production and water security in Uzbekistan
2. Investigate the future scenarios with continuation with current policies
3. Explore the potential policy options available for Uzbekistan

ACTIVITIES
 
Major activities will be:
                   - Collection of data;
                    - Validation of the same;
                    - Application of the model
                    - Capacity building for the local partners
                    - Publications/ sharing with government of Uzbekistan

BENEFICIARIES AND IMPACTS

• SIC will gain the capacity to apply this model for the other countries in the region and provide advice accordingly to governments, if this work will show workability of models.
• IWMI will have the opportunity to test in a different economic environment it’s PODIUM for better understanding and improved recommendations
• The results will be available for the Global Research Community involved in policy analysis for food and water security.