These recommendations serve as the basis for planning land reclamation, and water management, as well as provide operational services to land users of the irrigation systems. The project envisaged the improvement of 39.2 thousand hectares of irrigated land in the Makhtaaral Region of South Kazakhstan where agriculture is focussed on cotton. Under the project, the restoration and upgrading of irrigation and drainage systems were implemented, including the amelioration of soils prone to salinisation, and water management was improved. In addition, the project provided support to agricultural service institutions and farms incorporated in rural co-operatives of water users.