Farmers from Novopokrovsky rural area hold a rally near the Government House in Bishkek. They complain about the lack of irrigation water.
Almazbek Sokeyev, Director of the Water Resources Service, came out to the protesters and noted that the water shortage was caused by old irrigation canals and an increase in the area of irrigated land.
«These farmers grow strawberries. Those who grow corn, clover have no problems with water. The canals are old, we must also take this into account. Their capacity has not changed, but the area of cultivated land has increased. There is no land that is not cultivated. The only solution to the problem is the distribution of water between the districts at night,» he said.
In turn, farmers noted that the problem recurs every year.
«If one has enough, the other does not. I am dissatisfied with the answer of the officials. They promise, but there is still no water,» one of the farmers said.
At least 1 billion soms was allocated from the budget at the beginning of the year to prepare the irrigation system of Kyrgyzstan for the irrigation season.
