The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)’s ‘CROPWAT’ programme was presented at the UN building in Ashgabat. It enables the calculation of crop irrigation regimes under conditions of climate change, according to IIC of Turkmenistan.

The event took place as part of a joint project between the Government of Turkmenistan, UNDP and the GEF on water and land resource management in the Aral Sea basin.

The methodology has been adapted to the arid conditions of the Saparmyrat Turkmenbashi etrap in Dashoguz velayat. Local agronomists and engineers will now be able to calculate crop water requirements rather than relying on approximate estimates.

Participants discussed combating secondary soil salinisation, hydromodular zoning and the role of protective forest strips. At the end of the event, certificates were awarded to specialists who had successfully completed the training on the digital tool.