Drought and Water Scarcity in Türkiye's Agriculture

Water, the essence of life, is a fundamental resource for agriculture, especially in countries like Türkiye where irrigation underpins the productivity of vast arable lands. As climate change accelerates and water scarcity intensifies, the challenge of managing limited water resources becomes more urgent. Agriculture, while vital for food production and rural livelihoods, is also the largest consumer of water, placing immense pressure on already stressed freshwater supplies. Despite the Earth’s surface being predominantly covered by water, only 2.5% of it is freshwater, and a mere 1% is readily available for human use (UN Water, 2023). Türkiye, with an annual renewable water availability of around 1,500 cubic meters per capita, falls below the internationally recognized threshold of 1,700 m³, categorizing it as a water-stressed nation (DSİ, 2023).

The agricultural sector in Türkiye alone consumes 73% of the total water usage, amounting to nearly 44 billion cubic meters annually (TÜİK, 2023). This dependency on large-scale irrigation underscores the sector’s vulnerability to climatic fluctuations. In recent years, the country has experienced increasingly frequent and severe droughts, including the prolonged 2021–2023 event, which drove reservoir levels to dangerously low levels and disrupted irrigation cycles in key agricultural regions. These trends not only threaten crop yields but also jeopardize national food security and rural economic stability.

In this context, the adoption of sustainable and efficient water management practices is not just an environmental priority but an agricultural and economic imperative. Promoting water-saving technologies, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, investing in modern infrastructure, and raising awareness among farmers are essential steps forward. Without strategic interventions, Türkiye risks facing deeper water insecurity that could hinder its agricultural potential and expose millions to the adverse impacts of climate-induced resource scarcity.

Water Consumption in Agricultural Production

Water consumption in agricultural production varies significantly depending on the type of crops or livestock being produced. Each agricultural product has a distinct water footprint, reflecting the volume of water needed for its cultivation or rearing. For example, producing one kilogram of potatoes requires approximately 100 liters of water, while wheat needs around 200 liters per kilogram. Rice, a water-intensive crop commonly cultivated in flood-irrigated fields, consumes about 4,000 liters per kilogram. However, the most water-intensive product is beef, which requires a staggering 13,000 liters of water per kilogram due to the cumulative water needs for feed, drinking water, and maintenance of livestock (Mekonnen & Hoekstra, 2012).

In Türkiye, changing dietary patterns have added further stress to the country’s already limited freshwater resources. Traditionally, the Turkish diet relied more heavily on sheep and goat meat, which have significantly lower water footprints compared to beef. However, recent decades have witnessed a growing preference for beef, driven by rising incomes, urbanization, and shifting consumer tastes. This dietary shift has considerably amplified agricultural water demand, particularly for feed crops such as corn and soybeans, which are essential for intensive cattle farming.

Compounding the problem is the continued reliance on inefficient irrigation methods, such as flood irrigation, which result in substantial water loss through evaporation and runoff. These outdated practices persist in many agricultural regions despite the availability of more water-efficient alternatives like drip or sprinkler irrigation. As a result, Türkiye’s agricultural sector not only consumes the largest share of national water resources but does so in a manner that is increasingly unsustainable. If current trends in water-intensive consumption and inefficient irrigation persist, the pressure on freshwater supplies will intensify, further threatening agricultural productivity, food security, and ecological balance across the country. Urgent reforms in water management and dietary awareness are essential for long-term sustainability.

Government Policies and Irrigation Efficiency

To combat increasing water scarcity and enhance the sustainability of its agricultural sector, Türkiye has introduced several strategic policy measures as part of its 2023 Development Plan. One key focus has been improving irrigation efficiency, given that agriculture accounts for most of the national water consumption. The plan aims to increase the use of modern irrigation methods, such as drip and sprinkler systems, from 20% to 25% of total irrigated areas (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2023). This shift is expected to reduce water losses caused by traditional flood irrigation. In parallel, the government has set a target to raise overall irrigation efficiency from 42% to 50% while gradually reducing unsustainable groundwater extraction by 5% annually, an important step in reversing aquifer depletion and preserving long-term water availability.

However, while these policy targets are commendable, they may fall short without addressing the broader context of water use in agriculture. Current consumption patterns, dominated by water-intensive crops and livestock such as rice and beef, continue to exert significant pressure on limited resources. Recognizing this, Türkiye has adopted the National Water Efficiency Strategy (2023–2030), a more comprehensive framework aimed at transforming how water is managed across agricultural basins.

This strategy includes modernizing outdated irrigation infrastructure to minimize losses, offering training programs for farmers to adopt water-efficient techniques, and introducing basin-specific water budgets to ensure regionally appropriate water allocations. Perhaps most critically, it recommends reforming agricultural subsidies to discourage the cultivation of water-intensive crops in water-scarce regions aligning economic incentives with environmental priorities.

Despite these promising initiatives, real progress will depend on effective implementation, cross-sectoral coordination, and behavioral change at the farm level. Long-term success requires not only infrastructure upgrades and policy reforms but also a shift in how agricultural water is valued, consumed, and conserved throughout Türkiye.

Integrating Global Lessons for Sustainable Agricultural Water Use in Türkiye

Türkiye’s growing water stress demands urgent reforms that align agricultural productivity with long-term water sustainability. Valuable insights can be drawn from international experiences, particularly the European Union’s transformation of its agricultural subsidy framework. Historically, the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) incentivized the cultivation of water-intensive crops, such as cotton, leading to significant inefficiencies in water use. However, after reforming these subsidies in 2004, regions like Cordoba in Spain witnessed remarkable improvements. By redirecting financial incentives toward sustainable practices and water-efficient crops, irrigation efficiency in Cordoba increased by 40% (European Environment Agency, 2020). This case demonstrates how well-structured policy tools, especially those tied to pricing and subsidies, can serve as powerful levers for sustainable resource management.

For Türkiye, these lessons are highly relevant. The country must broaden its use of modern irrigation technologies, such as drip and sprinkler systems, to reduce water loss from traditional flood irrigation. Simultaneously, crop and livestock choices must shift toward less water-intensive alternatives that are better suited to the country’s semi-arid climate and water availability. Farmer training and awareness campaigns should be prioritized to promote conservation-oriented practices and help producers understand the environmental and economic benefits of water stewardship.

Equally important is the need to realign agricultural subsidies. Public financial support should be conditioned on sustainable water use, rewarding farmers who adopt conservation practices or transition to climate-resilient crops. This approach not only conserves water but also protects farm incomes and rural livelihoods in the long run.

By learning from global examples and adapting strategies to its national context, Türkiye can create a more resilient and water-conscious agricultural sector. A forward-looking, integrated policy framework that blends education, infrastructure, economic incentives, and regulatory oversight is essential to securing the future of both agriculture and water resources in the country.

Conclusion

Drought and water scarcity pose increasingly urgent challenges to Türkiye’s agricultural sector, threatening food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. With agriculture consuming over 70% of the country’s freshwater, traditional irrigation practices and shifting consumption patterns particularly the rise in water-intensive crops and livestock have placed unsustainable pressure on limited water resources. While the government has taken commendable steps through the 2023 Development Plan and the National Water Efficiency Strategy, long-term water security requires deeper and more integrated interventions.

These must include widespread adoption of modern irrigation technologies, reform of agricultural subsidies to discourage water-intensive production, and greater investment in farmer education and region-specific water budgeting. Importantly, Türkiye can benefit from international experiences, such as the European Union’s reforms under the Common Agricultural Policy, which demonstrate how aligning financial incentives with sustainability goals can lead to measurable improvements in irrigation efficiency. However, policy alone is not enough. Achieving true resilience demands behavioral change at the grassroots level, improved cross-sectoral coordination, and a national mindset that values water as a finite and precious resource. By coupling global lessons with domestic innovation, Türkiye has a real opportunity to lead in climate-smart agriculture and protect its agricultural future in an era of increasing climate uncertainty and water stress.

References: DSI; TÜİK; UN Water; Mekonnen & Hoekstra; European Environment Agency; Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Agricultural Economics, Selcuk University, Konya-Türkiye and can be reached at mdirek@selcuk.edu.tr

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