Kazakhstan to Move Irrigation Water Contracts Online by 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, farmers and agricultural enterprises in Kazakhstan will no longer be able to sign paper contracts for irrigation water. All agreements with Kazvodkhoz will be moved to electronic format, and payments will be processed through mobile apps, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the country is preparing for a digital reform of the water sector. The new system, now in development, will automate application submission, contract signing, and billing.

A pilot launch is planned for November.

Starting next year, all water supply contracts must be concluded electronically, including with farms, industrial enterprises, and other water users. Payment must also be made exclusively electronically.
This is necessary to ensure transparency and accurate accounting of distributed water resources. Previous contracts must also be included in the system, the minister emphasized.

We need to know exactly how much water each user has received and paid for. We need to stop going through the canals and collecting money from farmers,
he added.

In the future, the system will also integrate older contracts.

Earlier, Orda.kz spoke with Deputy Agriculture Minister Azat Sultanov about the causes of Kazakhstan’s black market for water and those responsible.

Original Author: Alina Pak