The pressure on Central Asia's water resources will increase several times in the coming decades, said the Head of the Sectoral Analysis Department of the EDB, Arman Akhunbaev, reports Sputnik Kyrgyzstan.
"In just five years, our countries will likely enter a state of permanent water shortage. This is largely due to population growth: in 2000, about 55 million people lived here, while today the number is around 80 million. Additionally, Central Asia is one of the least efficient water users," Akhunbaev stated.
The expert noted that approximately 40% of all incoming water is lost due to inefficient irrigation systems in the region's fields. Almost 55% of water used for domestic purposes is lost during distribution. According to Akhunbaev, implementing water-saving technologies in agriculture should become a top priority for the countries of the region.
According to data from the Eurasian Development Bank, Central Asia has lost about one-third of its glaciers over the past half-century, and the impact of climate change is being felt more acutely in this region than in other parts of the world.
The expert emphasized that the signing of the agreement to construct the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant was a significant achievement that will benefit all participants. In Akhunbaev's view, at the national level, the countries in the region need to foster a responsible attitude toward water and land as key factors for successful development.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 19, 2024