Agricultural policy, water governance and environmental sustainability: Lessons from Uzbekistan

Title : Agricultural policy, water governance and environmental sustainability: Lessons from Uzbekistan

Abstract:

Background:
During the second half of the twentieth century, agriculture occupied a central place in the economic structure of Uzbekistan within the Soviet planned system. The republic was assigned the role of a primary cotton-producing region, and agricultural development was largely subordinated to all-Union priorities. Decisions on land use and water allocation were taken at the central level and were rarely adjusted to local ecological or social conditions.

Objectives:
The objective of this study is to examine the historical relationship between agricultural policy and water governance in Uzbekistan and to identify the environmental consequences of enforced cotton monoculture in an arid region.

Methods:
The research is based on historical analysis of statistical data, governmental resolutions, and regional development practices of the 1960s–1980s. Changes in crop structure, expansion of irrigated land, and water use patterns in newly developed areas such as the Mirzachul (Golodnaya Steppe), Fergana Valley, Kashkadarya, and Surkhan-Sherabad regions are analyzed in a comparative perspective.

Results:
The findings reveal a persistent expansion of cotton acreage accompanied by a steady reduction of grain crops, primarily wheat and barley. Large-scale irrigation and land reclamation projects significantly increased withdrawals from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Long-term planning relied on unrealized inter-basin water transfer projects, which resulted in a growing water imbalance. Excessive use of mineral fertilizers and agrochemicals, combined with violations of crop rotation, contributed to soil degradation and adverse public health trends. These processes played a decisive role in the deterioration of the Aral Sea basin.

Conclusion:
The historical experience of Uzbekistan demonstrates that agricultural growth based on monocultural specialization and intensive water exploitation generates long-term ecological and social costs. This case underscores the importance of integrated land and water management, historically informed policy planning, and consideration of regional environmental limits in contemporary sustainability strategies

Keywords: Agricultural policy, Water governance, Cotton monoculture, Irrigation and land reclamation, Environmental degradation, Aral Sea basin

Biography:

Zamira R. Ishankhodjaeva is a Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor at the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek. She specializes in modern history of Uzbekistan, agrarian development, land and water relations, Soviet socio-economic policy, and environmental aspects of regional development. She has over four decades of academic and teaching experience and has held senior administrative positions, including Dean and Head of Department. Professor Ishankhodjaeva is the author of around 300 scholarly and educational publications, including monographs and university textbooks. She actively participates in international research cooperation and academic conferences