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Irrigation

South Kazakhstan Braces for Irrigation Water Shortages in 2026

On December 4–5, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, accompanied by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov, visited the southern regions of Turkistan, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl. The delegation met with local farmers to address the growing risks posed by declining transboundary water inflows and to discuss measures to ensure efficient water use during the 2026 irrigation season. Agriculture in these arid regions depends heavily on water from the Syr Darya River, which originates in Kyrgyzstan. According to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector consumed 11.01 billion cubic meters of water during the 2025 irrigation season, with 98% used in the south. The Zhambyl region irrigated 79,000 hectares using 1 billion m³ of water and remains largely reliant on upstream supplies from Kyrgyzstan. This past season, Kyrgyzstan committed to providing more than 600 million m³ of water to Kazakhstan via the transboundary Chu and Talas rivers. The Kyzylorda and Turkistan regions were the largest consumers of irrigation water, drawing 3.5 billion m³ and 3.4 billion m³, respectively, to irrigate 125,000 and 400,000 hectares. Officials presented water inflow forecasts for 2026 and outlined measures to improve efficiency amid declining water availability. The Syr Darya basin continues to experience low-flow conditions, with reduced inflows into the Naryn-Syr Darya system threatening irrigation supplies for the upcoming growing season. Farmers were urged to adopt water-saving technologies, limit the cultivation of water-intensive crops, diversify planting, and transition to drought-resistant varieties. Bozumbayev noted that during the recent session of the Interstate Water Coordination Commission in Ashgabat, participating countries projected a further decline in water inflows for 2026. He warned that the Toktogul Reservoir in Kyrgyzstan, located on the Naryn River, a key tributary of the Syr Darya, may reach record-low levels, putting irrigation supplies at serious risk. “Given the continued decline in available water resources, there is a real risk of shortages during the next growing season. This is a natural challenge faced by all Central Asian countries. To minimize the impact, we must accelerate crop diversification and the introduction of water-saving irrigation technologies. The state has created all the necessary conditions for this. This is not simply about conserving water; the country’s water and food security depend on it,” Bozumbayev said. To support adoption of efficient irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler technologies, the government has increased reimbursement for farmers' costs from 50% to 80%, on drilling wells and installing irrigation equipment. A differentiated irrigation tariff has also been introduced: for farmers using water-saving technologies, the subsidy on irrigation water has been raised from 60% to 85%. These measures have helped expand the area under modern irrigation systems from 312,200 hectares in 2023 to 580,000 hectares in 2025, representing 30% of all irrigated farmland. The government aims to increase this figure to 1.3 million hectares, or 70% of total irrigated land, by 2030. In Kyzylorda, the country’s main rice-producing region, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced that rice cultivation in 2026 must not...

Water resources

Central Asian Countries Agree on 2026 Water Allocations from Amu Darya and Syr Darya

Central Asian states have reached an agreement on water allocations from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for 2026. The decision was made during the 91st meeting of the Interstate Coordination Water Management Commission (ICWC), held in Ashgabat on November 13, 2025, according to Kun.uz. At the meeting, the countries agreed on how water resources will be managed during the 2025–2026 non-growing season, the period when agricultural demand is low. For the Amu Darya, the total allocation from October 2025 to October 2026 is set at approximately 55.4 billion cubic meters, with 15.9 billion cubic meters designated for the cold months from October through April. Under the agreement, Tajikistan will receive 9.8 billion cubic meters, while Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will each receive 22 billion. A key provision is that roughly 44 billion cubic meters of the Amu Darya’s flow must reach the Kerki hydrological station in Turkmenistan to sustain downstream areas. Additionally, 4.2 billion cubic meters is allocated to support the Aral Sea and the Amu Darya delta, with half to be delivered in winter and early spring. Another 800 million cubic meters will be used for irrigation in Dashoguz, Khorezm, and Karakalpakstan. These allocations are crucial for both communities living in water-scarce regions and for preserving fragile river ecosystems. For the Syr Darya, the total allocation for the non-growing season is 4.219 billion cubic meters. Of this, Uzbekistan will receive the majority share, 3.347 billion cubic meters. Kazakhstan will receive 460 million cubic meters through the “Dustlik” canal, Tajikistan 365 million, and Kyrgyzstan 47 million. These figures are based on projected river inflows, reservoir capacities, and the need to maintain ecological flows. The ICWC also approved operational plans for key reservoirs. In Tajikistan, the Nurek Reservoir is expected to enter the non-growing season with 10.5 billion cubic meters and decline to around 9.7 billion by spring. The Tuyamuyun reservoir, located on the Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan border, will start with 4.5 billion cubic meters and reduce to 3.4 billion. Both will gradually release water to support irrigation and sustain the Amu Darya’s flow. In the Syr Darya basin, total water volume in the Toktogul, Andijan, and Charvak reservoirs at the beginning of the season is approximately 10.6 billion cubic meters, slightly below average. Tajikistan’s Bahri Tojik reservoir is expected to contain 2.6 billion cubic meters, while Kazakhstan’s Chardara reservoir will hold about 1.65 billion. Collectively, the Syr Darya basin will have around 14.9 billion cubic meters of water at the start of winter, roughly 90% of the long-term seasonal average. The 92nd ICWC meeting is scheduled to take place in Dushanbe, where officials will assess reservoir performance and water usage during the 2025-2026 season. The agenda will also include strategies to strengthen regional water security in the face of escalating climate pressures.

Water resources

Kazakhstan Trades Electricity for Water in Bid to Mitigate Summer Drought Risks

Central Asia is entering a new phase in the management of its water-energy nexus, moving from declarations to practical coordination. A trilateral protocol signed in Almaty by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan marked a significant step toward stabilizing the region’s water regime amid escalating climate risks. Brokered under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, the agreement aims to balance the load on the Toktogul Reservoir, the main regulating structure of the Syr Darya basin. Kyrgyzstan typically increases winter water discharges to generate electricity, which reduces irrigation water availability downstream during summer. Under the new deal, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will supply Kyrgyzstan with electricity during winter, in return for Kyrgyzstan's commitment to store water and ensure its release during the 2026 growing season. The Almaty Protocol complements the existing plan for filling the Shardara Reservoir, which aims to accumulate 11 cubic kilometers of water by April 1, 2026. Achieving this target hinges on Toktogul’s operations. Without external support, Kyrgyzstan’s energy infrastructure would struggle to meet the requirement. Supplemental electricity from Astana and Tashkent thus forms the economic backbone of this arrangement. Longstanding disparities in regional water and energy needs remain a source of instability. Kyrgyzstan requires water in winter for hydropower, while Kazakhstan, especially its Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions, relies on it in summer for irrigation. Recent water shortages have pushed the countries toward more pragmatic coordination. Uzbekistan has committed to managing the technical conditions for transit and balancing inter-system flows. Despite facing its own energy shortfall and aging infrastructure, Kazakhstan is participating in regional stabilization to avert socio-economic risks in its southern provinces. External factors are adding urgency to regional cooperation. Afghanistan’s construction of the Qosh-Tepa Canal is expected to reduce the Amu Darya’s water balance by 20-25%. Although Uzbekistan is most directly affected, the resulting pressure on water systems could also impact the Syr Darya, on which southern Kazakhstan heavily depends. Internally, Kazakhstan faces persistent challenges. Water loss during transport reaches up to 40-50% due to outdated canal infrastructure. Rice cultivation continues in the water-intensive Kyzylorda region, while water-saving technologies are used on only about 30% of irrigated land. These new agreements suggest that Central Asian countries can rapidly implement collective mechanisms in response to shared threats. In effect, elements of a regional Water and Energy Consortium are already operating in a de facto, ad hoc manner. Water, energy, and food security are increasingly seen as interconnected resources requiring coordinated governance. For Kazakhstan, the priority now is to institutionalize these provisional agreements. If the “electricity-for-water” model can be formalized into a durable framework, it could stand as one of the most significant accomplishments of the country’s regional diplomacy.

Kazakhstan and Israel Strengthen Cooperation on Water Resource Management

On November 11, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation David Amsalem signed a memorandum of cooperation to deepen bilateral ties in the field of water resource management. The agreement outlines joint efforts in modernizing Kazakhstan’s water management infrastructure, improving water use efficiency, implementing water-saving and reuse technologies, and exchanging expertise in innovation and technology, particularly in the collection, management, and processing of remote sensing data. The memorandum also covers cooperation in the digitalization of water resource monitoring, flood and drought risk management, scientific and technical collaboration, and specialist training programs. As part of the visit, the ministers held talks with representatives of leading Israeli companies to explore partnerships on introducing water-saving technologies in Kazakh agriculture and training Kazakh specialists at Israeli enterprises. “Israel has extensive experience in water resource management under challenging climatic conditions and offers advanced technologies,” said Minister Nurzhigitov. “We are interested in long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation to modernize Kazakhstan’s water sector across the board, including the digitalization of water metering and distribution, deployment of cutting-edge water-saving systems, use of modern data collection methods, and professional development of our specialists.” Israeli firms have previously expressed interest in participating in the construction and reconstruction of reservoirs in Kazakhstan, and in supplying the country with modern flood forecasting and protection systems. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to build 20 new reservoirs by 2030, with a combined capacity of 2.5 billion cubic meters. The project is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on upstream water sources from Kyrgyzstan and China by 25%, mitigate drought in southern regions, and lower flood risks for 70 rural settlements with a combined population of nearly 140,000. Additionally, irrigation will be expanded to cover another 250,000 hectares of farmland. The ministry also plans to reconstruct 15 existing reservoirs, adding another 1.9 billion cubic meters in water storage capacity.

Kazakhstan and Germany Partner on Sustainable Water Management

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the German Water Partnership (GWP) signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement on October 8 aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in sustainable water management. The agreement will allow Kazakhstan to adopt international best practices and advanced water-saving technologies, strengthen climate resilience in the water sector, improve flood and drought response, and expand training for water-sector professionals. GWP is Germany’s leading water-sector network with a strong international focus. It brings together around 300 companies, trade associations, and institutions from business, science, and research. German expertise is already contributing to Kazakhstan’s digital projects in water resource forecasting, modeling, and accounting. German technologies are also being used in the construction of hydraulic infrastructure across the country. Following the signing, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev and GWP Managing Director Boris Greifeneder discussed plans to deepen cooperation. One key proposal was the establishment of a Kazakh-German Water Innovation Hub, to be housed at the Information and Analytical Center of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, with GWP’s support. In a related initiative, the Kazakh-German University (DKU), the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, and the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, supported by Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation, recently launched a new scientific and educational hub: the Kazakh-German Nexus Institute. Headquartered in Almaty, the Nexus Institute will focus on developing evidence-based policies for sustainable land and water use in Central Asia. Water resource management remains a critical priority for Kazakhstan, particularly in the country’s arid southern regions where agriculture depends heavily on efficient irrigation systems.

Water Level in Lake Balkhash Continues to Rise

The water level in Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash has increased by 32 centimeters during the first half of 2025, rising from 341.55 to 341.87 meters above sea level, based on the Baltic height system, according to data released by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. Located approximately 280 kilometers northwest of Almaty, Lake Balkhash is one of Asia’s largest inland bodies of water and ranks as the fifteenth-largest lake in the world by surface area. Since the beginning of 2025, 8.52 billion cubic meters of water have been discharged from the Kapchagay Reservoir in the Almaty region into Lake Balkhash. This marks an increase from 8 billion cubic meters over the same period in 2024. Officials expect total inflow from the reservoir to reach approximately 12 billion cubic meters by year-end. The lake’s hydrological health is closely tied to the transboundary Ili River, which originates in China and supplies nearly 70% of Lake Balkhash’s total inflow. The Ili’s flow is regulated by the Kapchagay Reservoir, which in 2025 is at full capacity for the second consecutive year, a milestone not seen in over a decade. The reservoir had previously reached full capacity in 2024 for the first time in ten years. In December 2024, Kazakhstan signed a cooperation agreement with the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Geological Survey (BRGM) to support a long-term conservation effort for Lake Balkhash. The agreement outlines a comprehensive study of the lake basin and the development of a sustainability strategy through 2040, aiming to safeguard one of Central Asia’s most ecologically and economically significant water bodies.