FAO launches project to develop artificial glacier technology in Kyrgyzstan

In response to an official request from the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan in early 2025, FAO initiated the development of a guidance document on the creation of artificial glaciers for nationwide implementation. The document was promptly prepared by FAO experts and served as the foundation for the new project. On 29 April, a symbolic launch of the capacity-building initiative for artificial glacier development took lace during a workshop in Bishkek.

The event was attended by representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, international organizations, experts, and stakeholders, who were briefed on the project’s key objectives and implementation mechanisms.

“Artificial glaciers are not merely a technological solution,” stated Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, in his opening remarks. “These innovations serve as a pillar for the resilience of rural communities in the face of climate change. Such projects enhance food security and stimulate long-term agricultural development.”

The artificial glaciers proposed by FAO experts are relatively simple structures designed to accumulate water in the form of ice during winter months. In summer, this water is used for agricultural needs, including irrigation and livestock watering. On average, a single glacier can provide water for 300 to 500 hectares of land.

“The key is selecting the right location for the glacier,” explained Matraim Jusupov, FAO expert on agriculture and water resource management. “We collect water from a mountain spring and channel it downward through a pipeline, at the end of which a vertical pipe, from 10 to 15 meters high, is installed. The elevation difference generates energy, which we use to spray water into the air. At low winter temperatures, the water freezes, gradually forming an ice cone.”

FAO specialists recommend complementing future artificial glaciers with a system of small reservoirs constructed using anti-filtration materials. From these reservoirs, water will be distributed through pipelines to fields equipped with drip or other modern irrigation systems. The implementation of the “Glacier – Reservoir – Farmer” system will optimize water distribution and reduce losses. As a result, farmers will gain reliable access to irrigation water, improving crop yields and incomes.

Some of the first artificial glaciers in Kyrgyzstan were built in the Uzgen, Kochkor, and Aksy districts under various FAO projects. To date, the country already has over 30 artificial glaciers, which have proven highly effective and significantly eased the workload of local farmers.