04/06/2026
As part of the Fellowship Programme organized by the Kazakh-German University (DKU) within the framework of the Green Central Asia II project, implemented by GIZ, researchers at the Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability (CRS) conduct studies aimed at addressing key challenges of sustainable natural resource management in Central Asia.
«Hello! I am Rustam Rakhmetov, a research fellow at the Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability (CRS). Driven by a passion for sustainable agriculture, my research focuses on water-use dynamics in the agricultural sector, particularly the drivers of the transition to water-saving production.
My workflow links satellite remote sensing directly to local water governance. First, I use remote sensing to calculate specialized spectral indices to identify exactly which crops are grown across the landscape. Next, I apply advanced machine-learning boundary-detection algorithms to map individual agricultural parcels over time. This lets me track precisely how crop choices and water consumption shift field by field, year after year.
What makes this analysis unique is its integration with official local registries. By blending these satellite-derived crop maps with Kazakhstan’s National Cadaster database and official KazVodKhoz water distribution contracts, I can analyze the direct relationship between land property rights, contractual agreements, and actual water use.
Moving forward, the next step in my project is to use economic modeling to predict how future policy changes or financial incentives might encourage smarter water management. Ultimately, by connecting space-based data with legal contracts, my research aims to provide practical, meaningful solutions to make Central Asia more water-secure.
My research would not be possible without the support of the CRS team. I am very grateful for the opportunity to conduct world-class research with full academic freedom and strong connections to leading scientists».
___________________________
The Green Central Asia II project is a regional programme implemented by GIZ (the German Agency for International Cooperation). It aims to strengthen transboundary cooperation among Central Asian countries in the areas of climate change adaptation, sustainable water resource management, and environmental security.
