133
10.2.3 Demography
The valley is a highly populated area in Central Asia (CA). An average population
growth rate of 1.5–2 % per year is common in the provinces of FV (Dukhovny and
Stulina 2012 ). According to different sources, population density in the valley
ranged between 25 and 621 inhabitants per km
2 in 2010 (Table 10.1 ), being as high
as 320–620 persons/km
2 in Uzbek provinces and as low as 25 persons/km
2 and 90
persons/km
2 in Kyrgyz and Tajik provinces, respectively. All provinces in the valley
are dominated by high rural populations as in Table 10.1 with densities of 200–500
persons/km
2 .
Given the importance of agriculture for the whole FV, natural resources, such as
land and water, have historically been amongst the most important factors in the
development of the region (Qadir et al. 2009 ). Data from other sources depict that
44–45 % of the irrigated lands of the Syrdarya Basin are located in the FV
(Toryanikova and Kenshimov 1999 ; UNEP et al. 2005 ). However, the amount of
irrigated lands available shared by the three countries is already limited and demand
for scarce natural resources will continue to rise with population growth. Hence, the
size of the population depending upon these resources is consequently a key factor
in political security and environmental issues. High population density also increases
the risk of depleting natural resources (Dukhovny and Stulina 2012 ), and therefore,
competition and even confl ict for their control would be self-explanatory.
10.2.4 Land Use and Agricultural Production
The agricultural system in Central Asian countries, especially in Uzbekistan, has
experienced continuous intensifi cation with increased cultivation of winter wheat in
the last two decades. Once the predominant crop in FV, cotton cultivation has
declined rapidly since the 1990s while the cropping area under cereals for food
security is increasing together with gardens and vineyards (primarily by the introduction of new lands in adyrs) (Fig. 10.2 ). The decline of lands under forage crops
can be explained by the reduction in livestock in all CA states since 1991
(Lioubimtseva and Henebry 2009 ) and by the increase in winter wheat and consequent cultivation of secondary crops (maize for silage, sorghum, legumes, etc.) after
the wheat harvest. Although highly profi table unregulated cash crops (vegetables,
grapes and fruits) are extensively grown in the provinces, cotton and wheat ( Triticum
aestivum L. ) are still the dominant crops in the valley taking up more than 46 % of
irrigated lands. Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) is cultivated more extensively than pima cotton ( G. barbadense L.) due to its short growing period and relatively higher yield (WARMAP 1997 ; Ibragimov et al. 2008 ).
During the Soviet period, 3:6 or 3:7 crop rotations (3 years alfalfa and 6–7 years
cotton) were recommended (Nerozin 2010 ) and considered as one of the methods to
decrease the soil salinity (by reducing soil evaporation and lowering groundwater
10 Irrigation Infrastructure in Fergana Today: Ecological Implications – Economic…
10.2.3 Demography
The valley is a highly populated area in Central Asia (CA). An average population
growth rate of 1.5–2 % per year is common in the provinces of FV (Dukhovny and
Stulina 2012 ). According to different sources, population density in the valley
ranged between 25 and 621 inhabitants per km
2 in 2010 (Table 10.1 ), being as high
as 320–620 persons/km
2 in Uzbek provinces and as low as 25 persons/km
2 and 90
persons/km
2 in Kyrgyz and Tajik provinces, respectively. All provinces in the valley
are dominated by high rural populations as in Table 10.1 with densities of 200–500
persons/km
2 .
Given the importance of agriculture for the whole FV, natural resources, such as
land and water, have historically been amongst the most important factors in the
development of the region (Qadir et al. 2009 ). Data from other sources depict that
44–45 % of the irrigated lands of the Syrdarya Basin are located in the FV
(Toryanikova and Kenshimov 1999 ; UNEP et al. 2005 ). However, the amount of
irrigated lands available shared by the three countries is already limited and demand
for scarce natural resources will continue to rise with population growth. Hence, the
size of the population depending upon these resources is consequently a key factor
in political security and environmental issues. High population density also increases
the risk of depleting natural resources (Dukhovny and Stulina 2012 ), and therefore,
competition and even confl ict for their control would be self-explanatory.
10.2.4 Land Use and Agricultural Production
The agricultural system in Central Asian countries, especially in Uzbekistan, has
experienced continuous intensifi cation with increased cultivation of winter wheat in
the last two decades. Once the predominant crop in FV, cotton cultivation has
declined rapidly since the 1990s while the cropping area under cereals for food
security is increasing together with gardens and vineyards (primarily by the introduction of new lands in adyrs) (Fig. 10.2 ). The decline of lands under forage crops
can be explained by the reduction in livestock in all CA states since 1991
(Lioubimtseva and Henebry 2009 ) and by the increase in winter wheat and consequent cultivation of secondary crops (maize for silage, sorghum, legumes, etc.) after
the wheat harvest. Although highly profi table unregulated cash crops (vegetables,
grapes and fruits) are extensively grown in the provinces, cotton and wheat ( Triticum
aestivum L. ) are still the dominant crops in the valley taking up more than 46 % of
irrigated lands. Upland cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) is cultivated more extensively than pima cotton ( G. barbadense L.) due to its short growing period and relatively higher yield (WARMAP 1997 ; Ibragimov et al. 2008 ).
During the Soviet period, 3:6 or 3:7 crop rotations (3 years alfalfa and 6–7 years
cotton) were recommended (Nerozin 2010 ) and considered as one of the methods to
decrease the soil salinity (by reducing soil evaporation and lowering groundwater
10 Irrigation Infrastructure in Fergana Today: Ecological Implications – Economic…