The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a new regional program, Glaciers to Farms, that will promote sustainable water use and food security in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan amid the catastrophic impacts of accelerated glacial melt due to climate change, says press release issued by ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) on November 19.

Supported by the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Project Preparation Facility, ADB will conduct risk assessments of glacial melt in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—forming the scientific and technical basis for the Glacier to Farms program.

With temperatures in the region projected to rise by up to 6 degrees Celsius by 2100, the loss of glacial mass threatens the fragile balance of ecosystems, jeopardizing water supply for agriculture and hydropower, and risking the livelihoods of more than 380 million people.

Glaciers to Farms envisages mobilizing up to US$3.5 billion from ADB, GCF, governments, development partners, and the private sector, subject to the participating institutions’ board approvals. In addition to water and agriculture investments, the program will support vulnerable communities threatened by glacial melt, particularly in fragile mountain regions.

Glaciers are essential natural service providers.  They store freshwater that melts gradually, feeding rivers that support demand for agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water across national borders.

In upstream areas, shrinking glaciers diminish water flow, impacting local agriculture and increasing water shortages.  Downstream, increased glacial runoff can cause floods. As glaciers continue to shrink, both upstream and downstream communities face greater water and food insecurity, and more risk to critical infrastructure.

Glaciers to Farms is one of several ADB initiatives to help Asia adapt to melting glaciers.  In the Hindu Kush Himalaya, ADB is establishing early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure. In monsoonal South and Southeast Asia, the Bank is enhancing resilience throughout entire river basins.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation, while Tajikistan will host the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe next year.

Tajikistan’s glaciers are vast reserves of fresh water, crucial for the survival of millions. The Vanjyakh (formerly Fedchenko) Glacier, the largest in Tajikistan, stretching over 70 kilometers in length, alone is a colossal natural reservoir, but recent decades have seen its edges recede significantly, a clear sign of distress. The total number of glacier are counted around 10000 and only more than of them are classified as large. The Amu Darya and Zarafshon river systems are supplied by extensive glaciers in Tajikistan, providing water that ultimately reaches downstream countries such as Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. As a result, it is commonly acknowledged that a significant portion of the region’s water originates in Tajikistan.

Scientific measurements indicate that Tajikistan’s glaciers have been losing volume at a rate that exceeds global averages.  Specific data points reveal that some glaciers in the region are thinning by more than one meter annually.   

Tajik climatologists assessed the impact of global climate change on the glaciers of Tajikistan. According to the results of observations, since 1930, the total area of glaciers of the country has decreased by about 30%.  According to experts, if the current rate of glacier degradation persists in Tajikistan, numerous small glaciers in the country will completely vanish within the next 30-40 years. This will have a significant impact on the water flow of several rivers, including the Zarafshon, Kofarnihon, Qaratogh, and Obihingou.  The glaciated area of the country is projected to decrease by 15-20% compared to the present.

Since Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, the Bank has provided over US$2.7 billion in assistance to the country, including over $2.2 billion in grants.  In 2024, ADB has committed a total of $220 million new grant assistance to Tajikistan. 

Established in 1966, the Asian Development Bank is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.