SEP

 

Efficient Use of Water Project

The Kyrgyz name of the Efficient Use of Water Project is "SEP". This word has two meanings in Kyrgyz language which can both be linked to a project on efficient water management: First, "СЭП" means "spreading water", and second, "СЭП" is the word for the dowry of the bride at a wedding (sustainable resource management in analogy to the dowry as the basis for a solid and long-lasting marriage).

The SEP project aims at improving farmers' capacities to manage their often scarce water resources for agricultural production in an optimal way so that agricultural production and thus food security is increased and natural resources are preserved for the present and future population.

Background

Water is a key resource for Kyrgyzstan, essential for agricultural production and related directly to livelihood of the rural population and poverty alleviation measures. Today, scarcity of water resources in many places of the country is intense. Therefore, numerous initiatives and projects have been initiated to improve water management, most of them targeting water distribution and allocation to the different user sectors and groups, including the rehabilitation of water infrastructure, and the establishment of Water User Associations (WUAs). However, one important gap remains almost untackled, namely adequate water management by farmers at the plot and farm level.

In order to fill this gap Helvetas has engaged in a project called SEP (SEP ="СЭП" - сууну эффективдуу пайдалануу, Kyrgyz for "Efficient Use of Water") aiming at improving efficient water use at field level.

Project Goal and Objective

The objective of the project is to improve farmers' know-how and capacity to use advanced irrigation and water harvesting techniques in their fields, thus enabling them to manage their scare water resources more efficiently. Cautious water use also leads to higher yields, reduces soil erosion and combats decreasing soil fertility.

In this way the project contributes to a more sustainable management of natural resources in the project area, higher and more stable yields, to a reduction of conflict potential related to water distribution and to improvement of rural inhabitants' livelihoods.

Project Intervention Strategy and Approach

The SEP project achieves its objective through collaboration with partners who are directly working with farmers. These partners are training institutions, Water User Associations and private businesses active in the agricultural water sector. The project is expected to add value to existing activities (training capacities, business services) of these actors. The projects will strengthen the capacity of the partner institutions and entities in terms of providing adapted and need-based services to farmers, related to irrigation and rainfed agriculture.

Based on their close and long-term contact with farmers the partners assess their and their clients' needs in terms of know-how, access to information and equipment regarding water management and submit proposals for confined training or business development projects. These project proposals are examined by the SEP project considering a set of criteria, and selected partner projects are supported. Calls for proposals for this competitive grant scheme are released at half-yearly intervals, i.e. in spring for winter crop projects, and in fall for projects related to summer crops

Partners of SEP

By collaborating with various organizations and entities different approaches (training and coaching, knowledge sharing, business development) and information channels (advisory services, self-help groups, farmer organizations, mass media etc.) are used. At present SEP is working with 6 partner organizations: Two advisory services (RAS Jalalabad and RAS Batken), one public foundation focusing on social mobilization (Mehr Shavkat), two training institutions (TES-Centre, Tayan) and one Water User Association (Jangy Aryk in Karasuu Rayon in Osh oblast). Support to the partner organizations is provided by ZOKI (Training, Advisory and Information Centre, Bishkek and Osh) in close collaboration with the Kyrgyz Scientific Research Institute of Irrigation (KSRII), Kyrgyz Universities and other projects (e.g. the Water Productivity Improvement at Plot-level Project of SDC). The partner organizations will subsequently train and advice farmers in the field.

Inception phase, location, duration and staffing of the project

The project is currently in its inception phase, lasting from January to December 2009 and activities are carried out in the South of Kyrgyzstan (Jalalabad, Osh, and Batken oblast). Based on the results of this year a first main phase will be planned, possibly by expanding project activities to other regions of the country and by adding new thematic areas such as conflict prevention in border areas. The project is managed by a project implementation unit, based in Jalalabad and implemented in close collaboration with its partners.

SEP Project in Brief

How to contact us:

SEP Project

14 B Jamashova St., Jalalabat

Kyrgyzstan

Tel.Fax:++996 3722 55279 or 55223

E-mail: lydia.pluess@helvetas.kg

E-mail: water@helvetas.kg

Helvetas

43/1 Grajdanskaya St., Bishkek

Tel:  +996 (312) 36 06 72, 36 06 74

Fax: +996 (312) 36 06 73

E-mail: program@helvetas.kg