Failure to deliver irrigation water on time may cause cotton plants to wilt and dry out, slow crop development and result in yield losses. In such circumstances, a farmer should not rely solely on verbal complaints.

It is important to act in two directions at the same time:

First, take urgent steps to restore the water supply and protect the crop.

Second, officially document all relevant circumstances so that the farmer can later defend their rights and substantiate any claim for damages.

1. Check the water-supply contract and delivery schedule

The farmer should first locate the contract concluded between the farm and the water-supply organisation and carefully review its terms.

The following documents should be collected and kept together:

•  the water-use agreement; 
•  the water-delivery schedule attached to the agreement; 
•  the water-withdrawal limit allocated to the farm; 
•  applications or requests submitted for water delivery; 
•  records of previous irrigation and the volume of water actually supplied. 

Under the applicable Water Code, water use is carried out on the basis of an agreement between the water-supply organisation and the water user. The agreement defines the volume of water, seasonal limits, delivery conditions and the rights and obligations of the parties. The water-delivery schedule forms part of the agreement.

To determine whether water delivery has actually been delayed, the approved schedule should therefore be compared with the actual situation.

2. Immediately submit a written request to the water-supply organisation

A telephone call may be useful for urgent communication, but it may not be sufficient as legal evidence later.

The farmer should therefore submit a written or electronic request to the water-supply organisation and retain proof that it was received, such as an incoming reference number, electronic notification or other confirmation.

The request should clearly include:

•  the name and legal details of the farm; 
•  the number and date of the water-use agreement; 
•  the location of the field and its contour or plot number; 
•  the area of the cotton field left without water; 
•  the date on which water was due under the schedule; 
•  the date of the most recent irrigation; 
•  the current condition of the cotton plants; 
•  the risks resulting from the failure to deliver water; 
•  a request for the immediate restoration of the water supply and an on-site inspection. 

The farmer should also request a written explanation of the official reason why water was not delivered.

3. Record the condition of the field in an official commission report

Photographs and video recordings are important evidence, but they may not always be sufficient on their own.

The farmer should request an inspection of the field involving representatives of the water-supply organisation, the district agriculture department and other responsible authorities.

An official commission inspection report should be prepared following the inspection.

The report should contain:

•  the date and time of preparation; 
•  the names, positions and organisations of the participants; 
•  information about the farm and the field; 
•  the total planted area and the affected area; 
•  the development stage of the cotton crop; 
•  the date of the most recent irrigation; 
•  the volume of water that should have been supplied; 
•  the volume of water actually supplied; 
•  the visible condition of the soil and plants; 
•  signs of wilting, drying or delayed development; 
•  the likely cause of the problem; 
•  urgent measures that should be taken. 

When the farmer disagrees with any information in the report, their comments and objections should be recorded in writing before signing it.

The farmer should not sign a blank report or a document that does not accurately reflect the situation.

The Water Code also provides for the preparation of a monthly bilateral electronic report between the water user and the water-supply organisation concerning the amount of water actually delivered. The farmer should check the information in that report and obtain a copy when necessary.

4. Officially notify the responsible authorities

A copy of the request submitted to the water-supply organisation should also be sent to:

•  the district administration, or khokimiyat; 
•  the district agriculture department; 
•  the relevant territorial water-management authorities; 
•  the territorial representatives of the Farmers’ Council; 
•  the irrigation systems basin administration, when necessary. 

The request should ask the responsible authorities to visit the field, establish a commission, restore the water supply and provide an official assessment of the situation.

A copy of each letter, its incoming registration number and the response received should be stored in a separate file.

5. Properly prepare photographic and video evidence

Photographs and videos should show when, where and under what conditions the damage occurred.

The farmer should record:

•  a general view of the field; 
•  wilted or drying cotton plants; 
•  the condition and moisture level of the soil; 
•  the ditch or canal through which water should have arrived; 
•  readings from a water-measuring device, where available; 
•  the field contour or plot and its location; 
•  the date and time of recording. 

Geolocation should be enabled whenever possible.

Photographing or recording the same locations every day or at regular intervals can help demonstrate how the damage developed over time.

Farmers are also advised to maintain a daily field log recording:

•  the condition of the cotton plants; 
•  weather conditions; 
•  whether and when water was supplied; 
•  communications with responsible officials; 
•  responses received and actions taken. 

6. If the crop is insured, do not miss the three-day deadline

The insurance policy and agreement should first be reviewed. A shortage or failure of water delivery is not automatically treated as an insured event under every policy.

The incident may fall within the scope of a natural or technological risk, drought or the actions of third parties. This depends on the specific wording and conditions of the insurance contract.

Under the applicable procedure, an agricultural producer must submit an electronic notification through the relevant information system to the Agricultural Insurance Fund within three days of the occurrence of a suspected insured event.

An independent expert is then appointed to inspect the insured property and assess the damage.

The farmer should therefore:

•  check the insurance policy immediately; 
•  report the event within three days; 
•  retain confirmation that the electronic notification was accepted; 
•  avoid altering the condition of the field before the expert’s inspection unless urgent action is necessary; 
•  document all emergency work undertaken to save the crop through photographs, videos and written records. 

7. Prepare a collective request when several farmers are affected

When the same problem affects several farmers using one canal or irrigation network, a collective request may be more effective.

The collective request should include:

•  a list of all affected farms; 
•  their contract numbers; 
•  information about the affected fields; 
•  contour or plot numbers; 
•  the total area potentially at risk; 
•  photographs and videos; 
•  copies of previous individual requests. 

The law allows individuals and legal entities to submit collective requests.

Unless another procedure is specifically requested, the official response is generally sent to the first person listed among the applicants.

The farmers should therefore appoint a representative authorised to communicate on their behalf and receive official responses.

8. Monitor how the requests are being considered

As a general rule, an application or complaint submitted to a government authority or organisation should be reviewed within 15 days from the date it is received.

When additional study, inspection or documents are required, the review period may be extended to one month.

However, cotton crops left without irrigation cannot wait for the standard review period to expire. The request should therefore contain a specific urgent demand such as:

“Due to the immediate risk of the crop drying out, we request an urgent on-site inspection of the field and immediate measures to restore the water supply.”

9. If the problem is not resolved, apply to a higher authority or the court

When a request is not accepted, is rejected without proper grounds, is not answered within the prescribed period or does not result in a solution, the farmer has the right to complain to a higher authority or apply directly to the court.

Under the Water Code, a water user may claim compensation for damage caused by a violation of their right to receive water in accordance with the established water-withdrawal limit and delivery regime.

Disputes relating to water use are resolved in accordance with the procedure established by law.

To obtain compensation, the farmer will generally need to prove:

•  that the contract or water-delivery schedule was violated; 
•  that actual damage occurred as a result of the water shortage; 
•  that there is a causal connection between the violation and the damage; 
•  that the farmer took reasonable steps to protect the crop; 
•  that the amount of damage was calculated and confirmed by a specialist or expert. 

For this reason, it is important to involve an agronomist, independent expert, appraiser and lawyer during the pre-court stage.

What Should Not Be Done?

Even when there is a shortage of water, a farmer must not withdraw water without authorisation, alter hydraulic structures, install temporary barriers or connect an unauthorised pump.

Such actions may be treated as violations of the law and may weaken the farmer’s subsequent claims.

Water legislation prohibits unauthorised regulation of water delivery and unauthorised water withdrawal.

Farmers should also avoid the following:

•  signing an inspection report that does not reflect the actual situation; 
•  relying only on telephone calls; 
•  deleting original photographs or videos; 
•  losing copies of contracts and water-delivery applications; 
•  waiting until the entire crop has dried out before submitting a complaint. 

A request should be made as soon as the first signs of water stress appear.

Sample Request to the Water-Supply Organisation

Request

Under Water-Use Agreement No. ____ dated , concluded with the “” farm, and the attached water-delivery schedule, irrigation water was due to be supplied from __________ to __________ for ____ hectares of cotton located in contour or plot No. ______.

However, as of __________ at __________, water has not been supplied to the field or has not been supplied in the agreed volume.

As a result, the cotton plants are showing signs of wilting and drying, and there is a serious risk of damage to the crop.

In view of the above, we request that you:

1.  Immediately inspect the field with the participation of representatives of the responsible organisations. 
2.  Provide a written explanation of the reason for the failure to supply water. 
3.  Prepare an official commission inspection report concerning the situation. 
4.  Take urgent measures to restore the water supply. 
5.  Provide information on the volume of water actually delivered. 
6.  Send an official written response following consideration of this request. 

Attachments: a copy of the agreement, the water-delivery schedule, photographs and videos, the water application and other supporting documents.

UFarmer Recommendation

The recommended sequence of actions when a farmer faces a shortage of irrigation water is:

Written request → incoming registration number → photographs and videos → commission inspection report → notification of responsible authorities → insurance notification → collective request → application to a higher authority or the court when necessary.

Keeping every request, response and item of evidence will help the farmer not only seek an immediate solution but also protect their rights and legitimate interests later.

This material provides general legal and practical guidance. Each case should be assessed individually based on the water-use agreement, allocated water limit, insurance policy and the specific circumstances of the incident.