Kazakhstan warns of irrigation bottlenecks

Kazakhstan is expecting shortages in the supply of irrigation water in four regions this year. Kyzylorda, Turkestan, Zhambyl and parts of the Almaty region are particularly affected. According to Vlast, the Kazakh Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurshan Nurshigitov, explained that lower inflows from the upper reaches of important rivers and lower reservoir levels will put a strain on supplies. Concerns about increasing water shortages in Central Asia have been growing for years. In addition to climatic factors, infrastructural and regional developments are also exacerbating the pressure on water resources. Kyrgyzstan is demanding additional funds from neighboring countries for the expansion of water and storage infrastructure. At the same time, the Qosh-Tepa irrigation canal being built in Afghanistan is causing new uncertainty, as it could divert considerable amounts of water from the Amudarya in the future. Regions particularly affected According to Nurshigitov, Kyzylorda, Turkestan, Zhambyl and parts of the Almaty region should be prepared for restrictions. These areas are heavily dependent on the Syr Darya, Shu and Talas river basins. At a government meeting, the minister explained that reservoir levels in neighboring countries along the Syr Darya basin are currently 1.6 billion cubic meters lower than in the same period last year. "As these reservoirs will retain water during the summer period, the expected inflow to Kazakhstan is likely to reach only 70 percent of the long-term average," said Nurshigitov. This corresponds to low water conditions and poses considerable risks for the middle and lower sections of the basin. There is also a risk of bottlenecks near the Kurty reservoir in the Almaty region. The reservoir currently holds 64 million cubic meters of water, 38 million cubic meters less than a year ago. Low reservoir levels in Kyrgyzstan Similar developments can be seen in the Shu and Talas basins. The Minister referred in particular to the Kirov and Orto-Tokoi reservoirs in Kyrgyzstan. The Kirov reservoir is currently 78 percent full, but contains 89 million cubic meters less water than in the previous year. The Orto-Tokoi reservoir is at 83 percent, also 79 million cubic meters below the previous year's level. As a result, the water withdrawal limit for the catchment area has been reduced from 1.2 billion to 900 million cubic meters by 2026. Due to the current hydrological situation, Kazakhstan has set the irrigation limits at 3.2 billion cubic meters for the Kyzylorda region and 3.8 billion cubic meters for the Turkestan region. Despite the increasing pressure, Nurshigitov described the overall situation regarding the accumulation of water in the domestic reservoirs as stable. However, the ministry assumes that the 2026 growing season will continue to be characterized by the consequences of the 2025 drought. Kazakhstan is one of the most arid countries in the world. Only 2.8 percent of its territory is covered by water, while around two thirds consists of arid and semi-arid areas. A large proportion of its water resources come from abroad. As a result, the country remains heavily dependent on transboundary rivers. The post Kazakhstan warns of irrigation bottlenecks appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.