BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 7. Currently, modern
irrigation technologies are applied to approximately 11% of
Azerbaijan's arable land, Ilham Bayramov, Deputy Chairman of the
Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency (ADSEA), said today on the
third day of the 19th Azerbaijan International Agricultural
Exhibition and Forum in Baku, Trend reports.
He emphasized that expanding the use of modern and “smart”
irrigation systems in other regions is also one of the key
priorities for both the Ministry of Agriculture and the relevant
government agencies:
“Today, the agricultural sector is undergoing a period of
significant transformation. Digitalization is no longer just a
trend, but an integral part of our lives. Currently, management
principles are based on digital solutions, technological support,
and accurate databases. For the state of Azerbaijan, one of the key
priorities is also the application of modern technologies for the
efficient use of water resources.
In this regard, the use of modern technologies, including
artificial intelligence-based solutions, is considered crucial for
assessing water resources, organizing water metering, ensuring
rational water use, achieving equitable distribution of water
resources, and delivering them to end-users in accordance with
their needs.
An electronic water management information system is currently
being created. This system will ensure the unification of all water
resources of the country on a single platform. The system will be
open to the use of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of
Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy, and other
relevant agencies. Because today, water management is carried out
based on coordinated activities of various agencies, and the
establishment of water accounting is one of the main directions,"
he said.
The Deputy Chairman noted that within this framework, work is
being done to measure and record water from the source to the end
consumer.
"14 hydroposts have already been established on the rivers, and
water levels are monitored online through these stations. Based on
this data, forecasts are made, water demand is determined, and
effective management of water resources is ensured.
The electronic water management information system will manage
all water resources, reservoirs, underground and surface water
sources, artesian wells, and other infrastructure facilities of the
country in a unified manner. In addition, a database on drinking
water, wastewater, irrigation systems, and rainwater infrastructure
is being formed within the framework of digitalization projects,
and most of this work is already nearing completion.
As for artificial intelligence solutions, these technologies are
based on large databases. Currently, extensive databases have been
formed both in the Ministry of Agriculture and in relevant state
agencies. For example, information has been collected on more than
1,9 million subscribers and water consumers, and their long-term
usage indicators, water demand, and payment information are being
analyzed," he added.
Bayramov said that joint activities are being carried out with
the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport to establish big
data infrastructures in this direction.
"Currently, artificial intelligence solutions are already being
applied in areas such as call centers, document management,
measuring snow volume in mountainous areas, and managing flood and
inundation risks. It is planned to continuously expand these
processes. At the same time, work is underway to integrate the
electronic agricultural information system with the electronic
water management information system. Information exchange has
already begun, and in the future, the development of more accurate
solutions for each farmer, operational monitoring of water demand,
and timely meeting of this demand will be fully managed through
information systems," he concluded.
