The World Bank has approved a financing package of $819 million aimed at boosting food production and improving water efficiency for over 550,000 people in Türkiye. This initiative addresses the country's water scarcity issues, which threaten fertile areas and are projected to worsen.
The newly approved Türkiye Second Irrigation Modernization and Water Efficiency Project will modernize irrigation systems across 72,000 hectares, benefiting at least 50,000 farms in regions facing extreme climate conditions such as heat, drought, and flooding. The agricultural sector in Türkiye consumes 85% of the nation's available water resources. This project follows an earlier program that focused on upgrading irrigation infrastructure to conserve water.
Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Türkiye, emphasized the importance of this project by stating: “Türkiye is the world’s ninth largest producer of agricultural products, with the agricultural sector accounting for 6% of the national economy and 20% of employment. Thus, the need to take a comprehensive approach to water efficiency is not only a climate change concern but also an economic concern in order to protect the sector and expand agricultural jobs. The World Bank is delighted to support efforts that will help conserve water, build resilience, increase agricultural productivity and production and protect rural livelihoods.”
The project targets farmers in central Anatolia region and Antalya province. It aims to reduce water loss during conveyance and on-farm irrigation while increasing crop production and food availability. Additionally, it seeks to enhance resilience against extreme weather events.
This effort is part of a broader World Bank initiative supporting efficient water management in Türkiye. Other related projects include the ongoing Irrigation Modernization Project and the Türkiye Water Circularity and Efficiency Improvement Project.