Crops are drying up in Zhany-Zher rural municipality in Leilek district. Local residents told 24.kg news agency.

According to them, farmers have been waiting for water for irrigation for the second month, but there is none.

«We irrigate land by artificial method. The pump and the pipes through which water is supplied to us are outdated. Repair works are being carried out for the second year in a row, and it never ends. Given the climate in our region, we were supposed to irrigate back in March, but it’s already the middle of April. Officials tell us that there is no money to replace the pipes. We have replaced the motor of the pump, but there is not enough power, because we have problems with it, too,» the locals said.

They appealed to the president with a request to solve the problem of irrigation water. According to the villagers, many farmers took loans for spring field work.

«Wheat and other crops have dried up. We don’t know how to save it. We urgently need water. We have no other work in the region. Residents of Zhany-Zher rural municipality earn money on farming only. If there is no water today or tomorrow, many families will be left without an apricot crop. We bought grain on credit, then spent a huge amount on fertilizers. What should we do? Despite security threats and problems at the border, we stay here. Should we leave? Will normal living conditions be created in the border villages?» the farmers appeal to Sadyr Japarov.

Residents of Zhany-Zher also asked the Minister of Agriculture Askarbek Dzhanybekov to come to Leylek and see everything with their own eyes.