STATUS OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN CENTRAL ASIA Aziz Nurbekov, ICARDA-CAC, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Central Asia

Country Total territory (M ha) Land area (M ha) Cropla nd (M ha) % cropl and % Agric ul. GDP Popul ation (milli on) Popula tion density (km -2 ) % rural popul ation Per capita croplan d (ha) Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Total Land resources and population and agricultural indicators of Central Asia

Development of irrigated areas in five countries of Central Asia during

CropsItem/unitKazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanTurkmenista n UzbekistanTotal CottonArea (m ha) Prod (m t) Yield (t ha-1) WheatArea (m ha) Prod (m t) Yield (t ha-1) RiceArea (m ha) Prod (m t) Yield (t ha-1) BarleyArea (m ha) Prod (m t) Yield (t ha-1) TotalArea (m ha) Prod (m t) Yield (t ha-1) Area, production and productivity of agricultural crops in Central Asian countries, 1992 and 2012

Rapid growth of population followed by increasing demand for food and feed Rapid growth of population followed by increasing demand for food and feed Area under irrigation has been increasing, but no more possible… Area under irrigation has been increasing, but no more possible… Arable land per capita is declining and competition for land and water is increasing Arable land per capita is declining and competition for land and water is increasing Rising prices of inputs (fuel, fertilizer, seed, pesticides, etc.) Rising prices of inputs (fuel, fertilizer, seed, pesticides, etc.) Land degradation (salinization, soil erosion, waterlogging and overstocking) Land degradation (salinization, soil erosion, waterlogging and overstocking) Current and emerging challenges in CA

Conservation agriculture can address these challenges

History: Conservation tillage (erosion control, Soviet times) Research work on CA (i.e. CIMMYT, ICARDA, ZEF etc.) since the late 1990s History: Conservation tillage (erosion control, Soviet times) Research work on CA (i.e. CIMMYT, ICARDA, ZEF etc.) since the late 1990s

Time span for CA projects

Donor organizations

Conservation Agriculture Effects - better developed crops and high rate of return crops from agricultural investments ; and - less erosion in the irrigated areas

-slowing evaporation of precious soil moisture because residues are slower to degrade; -No-tilling also conserves soil moisture, so more organic matter is produced, outweighing the initial loss of feed. Results of crop residues left in place: Conservation Agriculture Effects

Farm power and energy for field production can be reduced by up to 60% compared to conventional farming due to elimination of most power intensive operations, such as tillage, harrowing, chiseling and packing; Additional equipment investment, particularly the number and size of tractors, is reduced; double crops will be essential to improve sustainability of farming and land use efficiency Benefits of Conservation agriculture method Use of agrochemicals and mineral fertilizer is declined; Adaptation to climate change - Increased soil organic matter levels improve the water holding capacity and enable plants to get through extended drought periods;

Planting method Spent fuel for field prepation and planting, l/ha Root length, cm Plant height, cm Yield, t/ha Conventional No-till with 1 cultivation No-till Mungbean grown as a catch crop with retention of surface residues in Karshi ( )

Adoption – Regionally  Kazakhstan 1.7 million ha  Uzbekistan 0.6 million ha no-till wheat (only one year), including 1500 ha in rainfed area  Tajikistan 50,000 ha no-till wheat  Turkmenistan no data  Kyrgyzstan 30,000 no-till wheat

Why has there been so little adoption of Conservation Agriculture outside the Kazakhstan?

 Under practically all tilled agriculture, soil organic matter levels are falling.  CA is the only practical solution we know to stop and revert soil organic matter decline.  Therefore, under practically all tilled agriculture situations, a change to CA IS necessary. People often say “Under our conditions a change to conservation agriculture is not necessary”

Access to Equipment  Adequate equipment, especially for direct seeding, is a prerequisite for successful application of CA  There is little private investment in the development of equipment for smallholder farmers

Access to Equipment (2)  Dissemination of available equipment  Participatory evaluation and modification  Stimulation (support) of local manufacture

Fertilizer box Seed box Seed boxes for cotton and maize Planter developed by TIIM

Developed seed planters by TIIM  2003 (I version)  2004 (II version)  2004 (III version)  2005 (IV version)

Access to Inputs  CA may require more investment in purchased inputs, especially in the first years  Weed control is a major factor in the early years of CA and herbicide use may be important  Due to low volumes of demand and production, coverage of input and output markets may be poor  Programs that help support and develop input and output markets are necessary

Competition for Crop Residues  Competition is mainly for animal feed  Animals are generally very important components of the production system  Communal grazing rights often apply

Competition for Crop Residues (2)  But surface crop residue retention is essential for the success of CA  How much residue must be kept?

Labor use and labor productivity  The most important factor that has driven adoption on small farms in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan while in Uzbekistan on livestock farms  In many cases crop productivity per unit of labor is more important than per unit of land

Policy Aspects  Land tenure  Subsidies  Land stewardship payments and environmental services

Mind set – overcoming the culture of the plough. More difficult for researchers who have expounded the need for intensive tillage. More effort is needed in dissemination and local manufacture of the adapted equipment. Lack of extension services throughout the region and lack of farmer expertise and extension systems. Competition for crop residues. Smallholder farmers generally manage mixed crop/livestock systems where crop residues are used as animal feed. Constraints

In CA practices the main terms are creating of crop residue in the field with stubble stems and chopped straw, to provide full effect of mulching. Agricultural policies should promote food legumes growing as double crops in cotton-wheat systems to improve rural livelihoods and soil fertility management for sustainable agriculture. Agricultural policies should allow farmers growing cash crops as second crop after winter wheat for better livelihoods of farmers. Recommendations

CA - is responding to regional challenges is known in parts of the region is growing (Northern Kazakhstan) is productive and sustainable (win-win) is a major shift in paradigm requires supportive policies for accelerated adoption CA - is responding to regional challenges is known in parts of the region is growing (Northern Kazakhstan) is productive and sustainable (win-win) is a major shift in paradigm requires supportive policies for accelerated adoption Conclusions

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