Irrigation Management in Arid Area and Development of New Method for Improvement of the Environment : A Case Study of the Aral Sea Basin

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Due to excessive withdrawal of water for irrigation purpose, the environment and related eco-system of the Aral Sea and its surrounding areas have been adversely affected. The sustainable development of agriculture and conservation of the environments as well as the eco-system of the region became the focus of our concern.The present condition of the irrigation system and its management have been analyzed. For the improvement of irrigation system management and its performance, not only the rehabilitation and improvement of related infrastructures but also the improvement in management practices and institutional setup will be important.In the region, it is necessary to transform and diversify the production structure from the former-Soviet supported cotton and paddy to one which corresponds to the actual food demand. In establishing proper cropping pattern, the functions of paddy cultivation in terms of salt leaching should not be overlooked. Economy abd benefits of water use for irrigation should also be fully analyzed. With regard to the conservation of environment in the region, local initiatives of constructing artificial water bodies in the dried lower delta areas need to be analyzed. To support the stable supply of water to these water bodies, further efficient use and saving water in the upper irrigated areas are required.