2021 Central Asia drought explained

In Central Asia, a drought began in around April 2021, which affected most of Central Asia and parts of Russia. As a result, this led to mass livestock death, most notably in horses, and water shortages for irrigation. Food prices in the areas have been reported to increase following the drought. The shortages and drought have been linked to climate change.[1]

Countries

Kazakhstan

In early June 2021, photos from the Mangystau Region emerged on social media which showed emaciated horses on a verge of dying.[2] According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the cause for situation was due to lack of pasturage in the area as a result of several climatic conditions, and that measures would be implemented to prevent the further casualties of livestock.[3]

The Khabar Agency on 16 June 2021 reported that approximately 2,000 livestock had died with Kazakh lawmakers calling for a state of emergency to be implemented in the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions, citing the problems in farmers whom were unwilling to feed the cattle due to inflated costs for animal feed.[4] [5] In July 2021, due to worsening situation, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Agriculture Minister Saparhan Omarov to resign, citing his failure to provide assistance to struggling farmers.[6] On 13 July, a state of emergency was introduced in the Aral District in an attempt to solve the shortage of feed.[7] In a visit to Mangystau Region, Acting Agriculture Minister Erbol Qaraşukeev pledged that 1.9 billion ₸ would allocated in order to reduce the costs of livestock feed and that a ban on its exports would be placed as well.[8]

Kyrgyzstan

In Chüy Region, low water levels at the canals were reported, leaving the fields dry. According to Agriculture Minister, Almazbek Sokeev canal levels were "half their normal amount".[9] As a result, frustrated farmers from the region gathered near the government building in Bishkek on 14 June 2021, demanding the Kyrgyz authorities to solve the crisis in which they blamed on "unfair distribution of water" and the "indifference of local authorities". That same day, Cabinet of Ministers Chairman Ulukbek Maripov visited the Chuy Region where he described the situation as "complicated", and a need to solve it as soon as possible.[10]

Turkmenistan

In March 2021, the residents of Daşoguz were witnessed to have been selling off livestock in which according to them was due to the low amount of irrigational water, creating weak hopes in growing animal feed.[11] At the 2 June government session, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow assured that a successful harvest would occur, calling on officials to ensure farmers to be provided with all the seeds, fertilizer, modern equipment, and needed water.[12]

The Meteojurnal.ru in late June reported that the Ahal Region was facing its worst drought in 13 years.[13]

Uzbekistan

In Samarqand Region, residents reported an interruption in the water supply in which according to the local authorities was due to the drought which resulted in low precipitation and low water level at the Zeravshan river.[14] In response, water rationing was introduced on 8 June 2021 specifically in the city of Samarkand for eight hours per day.[15]

References

  1. Web site: Satke. Ryskeldi. 2021-07-12. Central Asian drought highlights water vulnerability. live. 2021-08-28. The Third Pole. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712070519/https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/drought-central-asia-water-crisis/ . 2021-07-12 .
  2. Web site: 2021-06-02. Жуткие фото умирающих от голода лошадей в Мангистау обсуждают в Сети. live. 2021-08-28. Tengrinews.kz. ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602063919/https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/jutkie-foto-umirayuschih-goloda-loshadey-mangistau-439150/ . 2021-06-02 .
  3. Web site: 2021-06-02. Причину гибели лошадей в Мангистау назвали в Минсельхозе. live. 2021-08-28. Tengrinews.kz. ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210602121820/https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/prichinu-gibeli-loshadey-v-mangistau-nazvali-v-minselhoze-439192/ . 2021-06-02 .
  4. Web site: 2021-06-16. Режим ЧП могут ввести в двух областях. live. 2021-08-28. Tengrinews.kz. ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210702230307/https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/rejim-chp-mogut-vvesti-v-dvuh-oblastyah-440521/ . 2021-07-02 .
  5. Web site: 2021-06-16. Почти 2 тыс. голов скота погибли от голода в Кызылординской и Мангистауской областях - Новости Казахстана и мира на сегодня. 2021-08-28. 24.kz. ru-ru.
  6. News: Kazakh Agriculture Minister Fired For Failing To Help Farmers Affected By Drought. 2021-08-28. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 10 July 2021 . en.
  7. Web site: 2021-07-13. Режим ЧС ввели в Аральском районе - Новости Казахстана и мира на сегодня. 2021-08-28. 24.kz. ru-ru.
  8. Web site: 2021-07-15. Исполняющий обязанности министра сельского хозяйства посетил Мангистаускую область. 2021-08-28. informburo.kz. ru.
  9. Web site: КОПЫТИН. Юрий. 2021-06-16. Пустые водозаборы и реки. Наглядно о засухе в Чуйской области. 2021-08-28. 24.kg. ru-RU.
  10. Web site: 2021-06-15. Фермеры Кыргызстана на грани потери урожая из-за засухи. live. 2021-08-28. Радио Азаттык (Кыргызская служба Радио Свободная Европа/Радио Свобода). ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210615035709/https://rus.azattyk.org/a/31308022.html . 2021-06-15 .
  11. Web site: 2021-03-29. Жители сел Дашогузского велаята распродают скот из-за роста цен на корм. 2021-08-28. Хроника Туркменистана. ru-RU.
  12. Web site: 2021-06-04. Марыйские фермеры обеспокоены беспрецедентной гибелью посевов, президент ждет богатого урожая. live. 2021-08-28. Радио Азатлык. ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210615124634/https://rus.azathabar.com/a/31290004.html . 2021-06-15 .
  13. Web site: 2021-06-20. В Ахале наблюдается самая сильная за последние 13 лет и самая продолжительная экстремальная засуха за последние 20 лет. live. 2021-08-28. meteojurnal.ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711032755/http://meteojurnal.ru/zasuhi/v-ahale-nablyudaetsya-samaya-silnaya-za-poslednie-13-let-i-samaya-prodolzhitelnaya-ekstremalnaya-zasuha-za-poslednie-20-let/ . 2021-07-11 .
  14. Web site: 2021-06-07. В Самарканде и других районах области наблюдаются перебои в водоснабжении. 2021-08-28. Газета.uz. ru-UZ.
  15. Web site: 2021-06-08. В Самарканде ограничили подачу воды из-за ее дефицита. live. 2021-08-28. Kun.uz. ru. https://web.archive.org/web/20210715102120/https://kun.uz/ru/news/2021/06/08/v-samarkande-ogranichili-podachu-vody-iz-za-yeye-defitsita . 2021-07-15 .

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