A regional project to combat droughts in Central Asia using satellite technology has been launched in Tashkent. Thanks to this initiative, Tajikistan is expected to gain up to $6 million annually from increased agricultural yields starting in 2027, Asiaplus.tj reports.
The project is being implemented with the support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The system will be tested in Uzbekistan until 2026, after which it will be adapted and rolled out in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan by 2027.
Central Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Over the past 30 years, average annual temperatures have risen by 1.2°C, while precipitation has decreased by 15–20%. These changes are particularly critical for Tajikistan, where agriculture contributes 22% of GDP and around 1.5 million people live in drought-prone areas.
The new system will use data from European Sentinel-2 and American Landsat-8 satellites. Forecasts will be updated every 5–10 days with 80–85% accuracy, enabling farmers to plan irrigation more efficiently, optimize water use, and minimize crop losses.
However, the project faces several challenges. Key obstacles include poor internet coverage in rural areas (affecting 55% of the territory), a shortage of qualified specialists, and high annual operating costs of around $50,000.
ESCAP plans to organize training for local experts and integrate the system into international platforms. The project will later expand to Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
By 2030, the introduction of artificial intelligence algorithms is expected to increase forecast accuracy to 90% and establish a unified regional system for water resource management.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 21, 2025