13.04.2026, 00:52
Kazakhstan to update the irrigation subsidy system
New measures aim to reduce farmers’ costs and improve efficient use of water resources
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan is preparing amendments to the rules for subsidizing irrigation water. This was announced by Vice Minister Talgat Momyshev at a briefing at the Central Communications Service.
The proposed changes include adding laser land leveling equipment to the list of subsidized water-saving technologies, compensating electricity costs for lifting groundwater, and subsidizing moisture-charging irrigation and the leaching of saline soils.
According to the official, a number of measures are already being implemented to encourage farmers to adopt water-saving technologies. In particular, the reimbursement rate for drilling wells, as well as purchasing and installing such systems, has been increased from 50% to 80%.
In addition, a differentiated subsidy system for irrigation water has been introduced depending on tariff levels. When water-saving technologies are applied, the subsidy rate increases from 60% to 85%.
According to the ministry, due to these measures, the annual area covered by water-saving technologies has grown from 30–35 thousand hectares to about 150 thousand hectares. By the end of 2025, their application reached 543.5 thousand hectares, saving 874 million cubic meters of water.
Efforts to improve water efficiency also extend to the industrial sector. The new Water Code предусматривает a gradual transition of enterprises to recycled and reuse water systems. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in reduced permitted water use volumes.
Water-saving technologies will also be implemented in cities and large settlements. By 2030, it is planned to fully transition the irrigation of green spaces to such technologies.
Earlier it was reported that production of Valley irrigation machines with a capacity of 300 to 500 sprinkler units per year is planned to be launched in the Almaty region.
