113
© The Author(s) 2016
R.F. Hüttl et al. (eds.), Society - Water - Technology, Water Resources
Development and Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-18971-0_9
Chapter 9
From Upscaling to Rescaling: Transforming
the Fergana Basin from Tsarist Irrigation
to Water Management for an Independent
Uzbekistan
Hermann Kreutzmann
Abstract The Fergana Valley is regarded as one of the most fertile irrigated oases
in Asia. The genesis of these highly productive agricultural lands is the result of a
lengthy process that originated long before the Kokand Khanate controlled most of
the valley. Major transformations occurred during Tsarist Russian rule when the
upscaling of this irrigated land commenced and when Fergana was integrated into
long-distance exchange networks. Major water works were planned, but only implemented in a massive fashion during Soviet rule with its major campaigns for modernisation and planning on a large scale. Cross-border management was established
in the highly integrated water scheme at the same time. Rescaling is a challenge of
contemporary times with the pressures of globalisation, independent Uzbekistan’s
dependence on water supplies from its neighbours who share the Fergana Valley’s
hydraulic resources and the conditions governing the cotton world market.
Keywords Post-socialist transformation • Modernisation • Path-dependent development • Central Asia • Aral Sea • Fergana Valley • Water management • Water
confl icts • Major water engineering projects
9.1 Introduction
The waters of the Oxus and Yaxartes still fl ow into Lake Aral. The great task of the future will
provide work until the last drops of these rivers have been diverted to agriculture. Realize
this: not until Lake Aral is dry need we expect an end to the development of the country
between the rivers; until then we can expect a steady increase of produce and population.
Realize this, and you then know what it means to speak of the future of the Duab. (Read on
27 March 1907 by Willi Rickmers ( 1907 , p. 8) at the Central Asian Society in London)
H. Kreutzmann (*)
Department of Geography , Freie Universität Berlin ,
Malteserstraße 74 , 12249 Berlin , Germany
e-mail: h.kreutzmann@fu-berlin.de
© The Author(s) 2016
R.F. Hüttl et al. (eds.), Society - Water - Technology, Water Resources
Development and Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-18971-0_9
Chapter 9
From Upscaling to Rescaling: Transforming
the Fergana Basin from Tsarist Irrigation
to Water Management for an Independent
Uzbekistan
Hermann Kreutzmann
Abstract The Fergana Valley is regarded as one of the most fertile irrigated oases
in Asia. The genesis of these highly productive agricultural lands is the result of a
lengthy process that originated long before the Kokand Khanate controlled most of
the valley. Major transformations occurred during Tsarist Russian rule when the
upscaling of this irrigated land commenced and when Fergana was integrated into
long-distance exchange networks. Major water works were planned, but only implemented in a massive fashion during Soviet rule with its major campaigns for modernisation and planning on a large scale. Cross-border management was established
in the highly integrated water scheme at the same time. Rescaling is a challenge of
contemporary times with the pressures of globalisation, independent Uzbekistan’s
dependence on water supplies from its neighbours who share the Fergana Valley’s
hydraulic resources and the conditions governing the cotton world market.
Keywords Post-socialist transformation • Modernisation • Path-dependent development • Central Asia • Aral Sea • Fergana Valley • Water management • Water
confl icts • Major water engineering projects
9.1 Introduction
The waters of the Oxus and Yaxartes still fl ow into Lake Aral. The great task of the future will
provide work until the last drops of these rivers have been diverted to agriculture. Realize
this: not until Lake Aral is dry need we expect an end to the development of the country
between the rivers; until then we can expect a steady increase of produce and population.
Realize this, and you then know what it means to speak of the future of the Duab. (Read on
27 March 1907 by Willi Rickmers ( 1907 , p. 8) at the Central Asian Society in London)
H. Kreutzmann (*)
Department of Geography , Freie Universität Berlin ,
Malteserstraße 74 , 12249 Berlin , Germany
e-mail: h.kreutzmann@fu-berlin.de