During the Water Efficiency Mobilization Information Meeting on November 17, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı warned that within six years, half of Turkey's population would be at risk of water scarcity. He highlighted that Turkey is already categorized as a water-stressed nation according to global indicators and is projected to face extreme water scarcity by 2030.
Water stress occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available supply within a specific timeframe, or when water quality issues restrict its usability. Yumaklı pointed out that Turkey's current water potential allows for an annual water availability of 1313 cubic meters per capita. However, he clarified that this figure represents the maximum amount of water available per person, not the actual amount utilized. He expressed concern that within six years, this figure could drop below 1000 cubic meters, putting half of the population and around 80 percent of irrigated agricultural areas at risk of water shortages.
Projections indicate that Turkey's population is expected to increase by 10 percent by 2030, while water resources are anticipated to decrease by 20 percent. In the 2023 water year, which spans a 12-month period ending in October and serves as a basis for measuring precipitation totals, there was a six percent decrease in precipitation compared to the long-term average. The most significant declines were observed in the northwestern Marmara Region (25 percent), southeastern Hatay province (55 percent), and northwestern Edirne and Tekirdağ provinces (40 percent).
