Low water level in the Toktogul dam of Kyrgyzstan may have a bad impact on Uzbek agriculture, for Toktogul is the main water reservoir in Fergana Valley, and Uzbekistan is already having problems with irrigation of cotton fields in its Fergana valley part. The abnormal weather – very cold winter that already changed to summer-like hot spring and low level of atmospheric precipitations – caused problems in all countries of Central Asia. Due to the severe cold during the winter, electricity consumption skyrocketed in Kyrgyzstan. To meet the demand all hydroelectric stations, including Toktogul, which is the biggest one in the region, worked in full capacity, passing the large volumes of water during the winter time, thus, leaving not much water for the rest period of the year.

Toktogul dam, Kyrgyzstan. You can notice the yellowish line on the shore. It was marked by last years level of water.

Today, in order to save water for winter time, which is also is being predicted to be very cold, the Kyrgyzenegro is holding planned blackouts throughout the country. Decreasing the level of electricity production in the hydro-electric stations in Kyrgyzstan means passing less water to the rivers that eventually flow to Uzbekistan. Therefore, some part of Uzbekistani Fergana valley might have serious problems with irrigation due to the lack of water. Farmers in Osh and Jalalabad of Kyrgyzstan already faced this problem. Fergana valley is considered to be a breadbasket of the whole region. If there will not be enough water for irrigation, it will results on poor harvests and already high prices for agricultural products may keep raising even higher.