ABSTRACT
The Ferghana Valley extends across three countries—Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—covering about 22,000 square kilometers (13,700 square miles) (Goudie, 1996, p. 12). Approximately three-quarters of Central Asia’s water supply comes from its two main rivers: Amu Darya and Syr Darya. The Syr Darya runs through the heart of the Ferghana Valley (McKinney, 2004). The Ferghana Valley is situated in a semi-arid climate with minimum precipitation from April to October (Siegfried et al., 2011, p. 2). In addition to its dry climate, the changing climate pattern in recent years makes the amount and frequency of rainfall unpredictable (United Nations Development Programme, 2012, p. 13).
