Community Action Investment Program (CAIP) Leads to Rehabilitation of Irrigation Systems in Turkistan, Kazakhstan

The ACDI/VOCA Community Action Investment Program (CAIP) in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan helps to foster a culture of participation and creative cooperation by finding ways for community groups, including youth, women, religious leaders and members of all ethnic groups, to work together productively. The program’s approach, which rapidly mobilizes and leverages local resources and donor funding for community infrastructure, education and health care projects, helps to create a new paradigm for community problem-solving and the capacity for joint community action.

One of these projects was in the Yassy Municipality near the city of Turkistan, Kazakhstan. Due to its strong religious background and depressed economy, Turkistan is prone to religious fundamentalism. Tensions have also mounted recently as the city has undergone rapid population growth and some groups have been disenfranchised. Farmers, in particular, have been displaced and many no longer have access to reliable irrigation.

In light of the situation, ACDI/VOCA staff mobilized Turkistan farmers, city officials and other community stakeholders to work together to develop a proposal to rehabilitate the irrigation system. The proposal was approved and seven kilometers of irrigation channels were mechanically and manually dredged. Two wells were also rehabilitated, including installation of a new electric pump, filter and pipes. As a result, 900 hectares of irrigated land have become suitable for grain, vegetable, fruit and tree production. Additionally, the project created 968 long-term and 100 short-term jobs.

Galymzhan Djalilov, a private farmer in Yassy, said he was very happy with the irrigation canal rehabilitation project. “When I decided to start my own farm I bought a garden plot close to the irrigation canal. However, due to the poor irrigation system, my trees started to dry up and did not bear fruit. I worried that my investment and hard labor of three years had been wasted. Now I am confident that my garden will survive and that I can develop my business and ensure financial stability for my family.”

Program staff is now collaborating with the local Water Users’ Association, which is responsible for ensuring the equitable distribution of water and the ongoing monitoring of the channel for its general maintenance, to dredge 13 kilometers of irrigation channels thus revitalizing 2,000 additional hectares of land, rehabilitating three wells and directly benefiting 8,000 people in the municipality.

CAIP has led to 15 projects addressing water distribution and irrigation problems and benefiting 96,656 people in 20 communities.