Since the beginning of 2024, Tajikistan has enforced new tariffs for agricultural irrigation water, marking a significant increase of 150%. This development was announced by Zafarbek Davlatzoda, the director of the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation under the Government of Tajikistan, during a routine press conference.
In 2023, agricultural producers were charged TJS 2 ($0.54) per cubic meter of water for field irrigation. This year, the rate has escalated to TJS 5 ($1.36), inclusive of VAT.
Balancing costs and revenues
The decision to raise tariffs is driven by the need to balance costs and revenues in the water sector, particularly in light of the increased electricity tariffs in preceding periods.
Potential increase in utility tariffs
Representatives of the State Unitary Enterprise “Housing and Communal Services of Tajikistan” have also disclosed the consideration of raising tariffs for utilities and water supply. The country’s antimonopoly service is currently deliberating on increasing the cost of water. Utility workers propose a tariff hike of 15-20% for their services, although the timeline for the approval of new tariffs remains uncertain.
Access to water resources
Tajikistan continues its efforts to ensure access to water resources. As per the latest data from 2023, 66% of the republic’s population had access to a central water supply. The number of people with access to clean drinking water has also seen an increase, surpassing 6 mn individuals.
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