Kazakhstan Secures Key Water Supply Deal for Irrigation With Neighboring Countries

Photo Credit: gov.kz

Kazakhstan has reached an agreement to receive approximately 11 billion cubic meters of irrigation water from the Syr Darya River by April 2025.

The agreement was finalized by Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, with officials from neighboring Central Asian countries, The Caspian Post reports, citing the Kazakh government.

The accord was signed during the 87th meeting of the Interstate Coordination Water Management Commission, held last week in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and attended by representatives from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with Kyrgyzstan participating as an observer.

The agreed water supply is expected to fill the Shardara Reservoir in southern Kazakhstan by April 1, 2025, ensuring adequate water resources for the region's agricultural irrigation needs during the 2025 season. Given the reliance on irrigation in Kazakhstan, especially in the arid southern regions, this water flow from upstream nations like Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan is crucial for the country’s agricultural stability.

Minister Nurzhigitov emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating, “This year, thanks to our negotiations and coordinated efforts, we have ensured effective water distribution in the Syr Darya basin. Agreements on water and energy cooperation with Kyrgyzstan have been successfully implemented, and joint measures were taken to optimize the operation of the Bakhri-Tojik reservoir in Tajikistan during this year’s irrigation season.”