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Risks, Impacts, and Adaptation Menus for Study Countries
performing other leak repair. In a World Bank project in Armenia, analysts found that 150 million m3 of water was saved by reducing leakage and mechanical losses in main, secondary, and tertiary canals (World Bank 2007, 2009). In total, 261 km were repaired at a cost of $21.9 million, or US$83,900 per kilometer. Additionally, 2,145 water measurement devices were installed for a total cost of $3.54 million or $1,650 per unit. Overall, the anticipated cost of this Armenian project was $0.17 per cubic meter of water, but ultimately the cost was evaluated to be $0.22 per cubic meter. These costs seem fairly high, and correspond roughly to the middle of the range of cost estimates for construction of new water storage capacity. The Armenian experience nonetheless suggests that the potential benefits of improving water use efficiency in the Syr Darya East basin, while deserving of further study, are likely to exceed costs. The results of the economic assessment indicate that some of the measures have higher estimated net economic benefits than others. The five measures with the highest net benefits in Uzbekistan’s Desert-Steppe AEZ are shown in table 3.19. Finally, the results of economic and other prioritizing analyses were arrayed for national policy measures and for each AEZ in a tabular form—an example for the Desert-Steppe AEZ adaptation measures is shown in table 3.20. Summary results for adaptation measures at both the national and AEZ level are summarized in table 3.21.
Table 3.19 Uzbekistan: Five Adaptation Measures with High Net Benefits for the Desert-Steppe AEZ Illustrative NPV economic results per ha (2009 $US, thousands) Crop focus for desert-steppe AEZ
Estimated revenue gain
Estimated costs
Improve varieties
Tomatoes Potatoes Apples Wheat Cotton
36–68 19–36 11–21 5–9 3–7
Use irrigation water more efficiently
Tomatoes Potatoes Apples Wheat
Rehabilitate or build new irrigation infrastructure Rehabilitate or build new drainage infrastructure Optimize fertilizer application
Adaptation measure
Net revenues
Notes
0.35
36–68 18–35 11–21 4–9 3–7
Costs are for R&D
41–107 21–54 15–29 10–17
8.5
33–99 12–46 7–20 1–9
Costs are drip irrigation, extension & hydromet
Tomatoes Potatoes Apples Wheat
194–352 105–221 42–78 17–32
12–16
178–340 89–209 26–66 1–16
Low end cost is for rehabilitation, high for new
Potatoes Tomatoes
16–32 3–12
0.6–1
15–32 1–11
Potatoes Tomatoes
21–43 3–16
1.2
20–42 2–14
Low end cost is for rehabilitation, high for new Costs do not include environmental damages
Looking Beyond the Horizon • http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-9768-8