OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2010. The largest hydraulic facility in Lebap – the Yylgynagyz irrigation canal, which plays an important role in irrigation of huge tracts of virgin lands on the right bank of the Amu Darya River, will be reconstructed. The 50-km six-step canal supplies Amu Darya water to the fields in new Dovletli Etrap and Beyik Turkmenbashi Etrap thus promoting agricultural production in the region.

The most of pumping and waterworks units and electric power installations of the canal, which have been operated for many years, broke down or outwore. For this reason the irrigation canal cannot meet the needs of fields in water. Furthermore, the huge tracts of lands stretching over the vast expanses of these etraps are to be used for agricultural purposes that will enable to considerably increase production of grain, cotton, vegetables and the other crops.

The fundamental reforms initiated in the agro-industry sector are aimed at efficiently using the existing reserves and to promote agro-industry development in the country. Thus, two investment projects on modernization of the irrigation canal have been launched.

One of the projects implemented by the TT Fluget AB Company (Sweden) is under completion. The Swedish partners are engaged in re-equipping and adjusting hydraulic systems on the 2nd-6th steps. They are to install over 40 high-powered pumping units, overhaul devices and install new equipment at the waterworks units and electric power installations.

According to the Lebapsuvhojalyk Production Association, a substantial amount of engineering and land treatment works are to be carried out at the 1st step which supplies water to the upper steps of the canal. This project is implemented by the Gidromashservis Close Corporation (Russian Federation). It is to install 12 high-powered pumping units with the capacity of 3.5 cubic metres per second each. The units have been delivered to the construction sites already. 10 units will be operated regularly, and two others will be reserve.

Waterworks units, electric power installations and other devices are to ensure reliable, stable operation of the hydraulic facility. Upon completing reconstruction and modernization that is scheduled for this year 35 cubic metres per second will be supplied to the canal.

Land reclamation experts of the Lebapsuvhojalyk Production Association are engaged in laying the 4-km approach channel from the Amu Darya River and widening, lengthening and deepening some parts of the Yylgynagyz canal running through the upper steps that will ensure sufficient water supply.

After reconstruction of the hydraulic facilities of the Yylgynagyz irrigation canal is completed, Lebap farmers will be able to considerably raising the level of crop yield on cultivated lands and use new tracts of virgin lands for agricultural purposes and turn them into a blooming oasis.

Promotion of agro-industry, agricultural extension, technology modernization and expansion of production infrastructure, development of virgin and flood lands, effective land reclamation activities are the key aspects of the large-scale agricultural reforms launched in Turkmenistan to ensure food security of the country.