Investor

Almaz Botaliev

Efficient irrigation systems not only help gardeners save water, but also help them save their time and fertilizer. Investments in modern technologies supported by KyrSEFF are
helping Kyrgyz farmers to address the issue of water scarcity, which has a positive
effect on irrigation and agricultural productivity.

In the Spring of 2020, during quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, farmer Almaz Botaliev laid out an orchard in Tamga village located in Issyk-Kul region. He planted over 1,500 apricot trees on an area of 3.15 hectares, irrigated by an automatic drip
irrigation system. The KyrSEFF Program through the partner bank Kompanion
supported the installed drip irrigation system.

‘The Orchard means investing in the future. It will take at least three years before we get the first results. At the same time, the key to a successful result is timely
watering.’ said Almaz Botaliev. ‘As it is common in many villages, our local
irrigation system cannot meet the annual demand for water. Drip irrigation
system has a number of advantages, the main one being stable irrigation. Today
I am the only one in the whole district who has installed such a system.’

The KyrSEFF team analyzed the drip irrigation system, its energy and water saving potential, financial and technical parameters and profitability.

‘We applied for a loan in February and got approval pretty quickly. All preparatory work for the purchase of seedlings and equipment was done before the quarantine was
announced. During quarantine, it was not allowed to travel even between
villages. A local company installed the system. The seedlings have started. We
are very satisfied,’ shared Almaz Botaliev.

‘Water comes to us through a concrete channel. The main problem is the water delivery from the concrete channel to the vegetable gardens, uncultivated land, and the queue for irrigation comes on average once, rarely twice a month. However, with drip
irrigation system, you can water once a week, which increases the yield.’

The US$ 3,991 investment helped Almaz Botaliev to reduce the consumption of clean water for irrigation by 60%, or more than 724 cubic meters annually. This contributes to
the efficient use of water in the Issyk-Kul region.

Drip irrigation systems consume less water, require less pumping power, and provide the right amount of water at the right location.

The implementation of the water reduction project allowed Almaz Botaliev to receive an additional grant from the European Union for 15% of the loan received.

The Kyrgyzstan Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (KyrSEFF) was developed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and established in 2013, with a total portfolio of US$ 55 million. To reward the successful implementation of energy saving measures through KyrSEFF, beneficiaries receive grants ranging from 10 to 35% from the total investment, and free technical support financed by the European Union (EC-IFCA). 

Location

Tamga,
Kyrgyzstan 

 

Investments

Drip
irrigation system 

Financial results

Payback of 3
years

Financial
results

US
$ 3991,27

Grant
amount

US$ 598,6

Energy
saving

315 kWh/year

CO2
reduction

0.02 tons/year

Water saving
724 m3/year