AKIPRESS.COM - Two-day trainings on effective water management at community to increase resilience against climate change impacts were conducted during April-June 2014 in three regions of Turkmenistan – Sakarchaga, Karakum and Nokhur.

The trainings were organized in the framework of a project on “Addressing climate change risks to farming systems in Turkmenistan at national and community levels” jointly implemented by Adaptation Fund, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan.

Heads of brigades, managers and mirabs (local water managers) of farmer associations, as well as local land users, school teachers and other representatives from local communities of the three regions attended to the training. The three regions were selected as pilot of the AF project as they represent three typical agro-climatic zones in Turkmenistan and local communities in these regions are facing increasing vulnerability due to climate change.

Participants learned theoretical and practical knowledge of effective management of water resources at the local level and became familiar with the existing water legislation of Turkmenistan, organizational modalities of water management at the national and local levels, as well as the functioning experience of associations and groups of water users in other countries. As results of the trainings, they have developed the plans for conduction of works in the focus groups.

Using these plans, AF project will be able to analyze the local needs of water users, collect proposals from local communities to mitigate the negative impact of climate change on their agriculture and water economy.