SOVIET IRRIGATION POLICY AND THE INTENSIFICATION OF ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
Soviet irrigation policy, cotton monoculture, Central Asia, Amu Darya, Syr Darya, Aral Sea, ecological crisis, soil salinization, desertification, water resources.Abstract
This article examines the historical development, economic logic, and ecological consequences of the irrigation and agrarian policies pursued by the Soviet Union in Central Asia, based on the principles of historicism, comparative analysis, and cause-and-effect methodology. It provides a detailed analysis of the policy of cotton monoculture, the construction of large canals and water facilities, the excessive exploitation of the water resources of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, the historical roots of the Aral Sea crisis, the social and economic consequences of ecological problems, and the restoration measures undertaken during the years of independence.
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