Climate change risks, water stress and the continuous degradation of the Aral Sea have made the agriculture sector in the Aral Sea region the most sensitive and vulnerable among all economic sectors. Consequently, the implementation of adaptation measures has become highly relevant in mitigating the adverse effects of temperature increases, water stress, and the increased frequency and severity of salt and dust storms, while simultaneously securing economic growth, food security, and environmental sustainability.
Within the scope of the Green Rehabilitation Investment Project for Karakalpakstan Republic to address impacts of the Aral Sea crisis funded by KOICA, and following government priorities for the implementation of infrastructure adaptation measures for the agriculture sector in Karakalpakstan, the analysis sets a precedent in providing an evidence-based assessment for implementing drip irrigation systems, moving crops to greenhouses and planting trees for windbreaks.
To bridge the conventional division between food production and sustainable resource management, the 3Returns Framework and the Nature-Based Solutions Framework for Agricultural Landscapes have been used for concluding and recommending a combined implementation of infrastructure adaptation measures for government's adaptation plans and development partners' interventions in the region.
This publication is a key product of GGGI's project Aral Sea GRIP in Uzbekistan, funded by KOICA.