Kazakhstan triples canal cleaning to boost irrigation and farmland productivity

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has significantly expanded its mechanised canal cleaning efforts. The initiative has led to a more than threefold increase in the work carried out since the ministry’s establishment. Anuar Uskenbayev, acting general director of RGP 'Kazvodkhoz', recently highlighted the progress made. In 2023, crews cleaned 562 km of canals. This figure rose sharply to 1148 km in 2024. By 2025, over 700 km have already been completed, with plans to reach 2211 km by the end of the year, bringing the total to 1840 km for 2025.

To support these efforts, RGP 'Kazvodkhoz' has renewed its equipment fleet. Over 2100 units of special machinery are now in use. In 2024 alone, 576 units were purchased with funds from the Industrial Development Fund. An additional 135 units were acquired using tariff funds the same year.

The mechanised cleaning aims to boost canal capacity and enhance water delivery to irrigated farmland. The expanded fleet and increased cleaning rates mark a major step in maintaining Kazakhstan’s irrigation network. The work is expected to improve water flow and support agricultural productivity across the region.