Kazakhstan trials water-saving rice as region faces mounting shortages

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — In Kazakhstan’s main rice-growing region, scientists are testing a new crop they hope will ease the strain of dwindling water supplies. The Ibrai Zhakhayev Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Rice Growing has begun field trials of Syr Sulu, a rice variety engineered to mature faster and consume less water than conventional strains.

According to The Times of Central Asia, the variety is being trialed in Kyzylorda, where farmers typically grow Russian rice strains that require up to 125 days of irrigation. By contrast, Syr Sulu ripens in just 105–110 days and can deliver harvests of 80–85 centners per hectare under proper conditions — while using significantly less water.

“The water situation in the southern regions of Kazakhstan makes it necessary to find and develop new ways to save water,” a representative of the institute said, adding that climate change makes such innovation vital for the future of agriculture.

Experimenting with soil technology

Researchers are also trialing “Water Retainer,” a Hungarian soil treatment developed to improve moisture retention and reduce irrigation needs. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is overseeing tests across fields in Almaty, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, Karaganda, Akmola, and Zhetysu.

Preliminary results have been promising. “Traditionally, rice is watered for 90 days, but with the preparation, 51 days are sufficient,” said Lazzat Dzhusipova, head of the ministry’s Department of Scientific and Innovative Technologies. She noted that the treatment not only saves water but also shortens the crop’s growing cycle.

Regional water crisis

The experiments come as Central Asia faces intensifying water stress. A recent assessment by the Eurasian Development Bank warned that outdated irrigation infrastructure is causing losses of up to half the region’s available water. Without urgent modernization, the study projects Central Asia could face a shortfall of 5–12 cubic kilometers annually by 2028.

For Kazakhstan, where rice farming has been central to the Kyzylorda economy, the development of water-efficient crops and soil technologies is seen as critical to sustaining agriculture in an era of climate uncertainty.