Water stress threatens global food security and agricultural stability

Global water stress is intensifying, significantly impacting food security and agricultural stability. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. In Turkey, this figure is even higher at 77%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Climate change is exacerbating these issues by altering precipitation patterns. The shift toward long droughts followed by short, intense rainfall prevents consistent water availability for crops, leading to reduced yields and higher food prices. The World Bank warns that if current trends continue, Turkey could enter the category of water-scarce countries by 2030.

Regional data highlights extreme disparities in water usage. Kuwait exhibits the highest level of water stress, consuming 3850.5% of its renewable resources. Other heavily impacted nations in the Gulf region include the United Arab Emirates (1509.9%), Saudi Arabia (974.2%), and Qatar (431%). In neighboring regions, countries like Iran (81.3%), Armenia (62%), and Azerbaijan (57.5%) also face significant pressure, while Turkey sits at a critical level of 47.9% usage of its renewable water resources.