Kazakhstan's farmers turn to drip irrigation for higher crop yields

Farmers in Eastern Kazakhstan are adopting new irrigation methods to improve crop production. The shift comes as part of broader efforts to modernise agriculture in the region. Water-saving technologies are now being used on a growing number of farms. The Kyzylbulak agricultural cooperative in Tarbagatai District has set aside 260 hectares for vegetable and melon cultivation. This year, water-saving systems were introduced on 150 hectares of its land.

In Zaisan District, 3,000 hectares of arable land now have irrigation, out of a total 12,000. Drip irrigation is becoming more popular in the area. Talgat Barkhanov’s family farm has implemented these methods across 300 hectares. His own system uses just 70–80 litres of water per 500 hectares.

Under the Aul Amanaty programme, local farmers purchased modern sprinkler systems and installed drip irrigation infrastructure. They also drilled a well and constructed a 60-cubic-metre reservoir to store water. The adoption of irrigation systems aims to increase yields across Eastern Kazakhstan. Farmers now have better access to water-saving tools and infrastructure. These changes are expected to support more efficient farming in the region.