Water Shortage in Southern Kyrgyz Region

Batken region in the far southwest of Kyrgyzstan is running short of irrigation water even though it is still only spring.

Farmers and smallholders say they can barely irrigate their crops, and are digging wells in hope of striking water. The local authorities say they do not have the funds to keep pumps and other equipment going.

Ziabeddin Jamaliddinov of the government water agency has now assured local residents that the money has finally come in to allow his staff to buy and repair the irrigation pumps.

The audio programme, in Russian and Kyrgyz, went out on national radio stations in Kyrgyzstan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.