Kazakhstan aims to expand water-saving irrigation to 1.3 million hectares by 2030Kazakhstan plans to expand water-efficient irrigation systems to cover 1.3 million hectares of farmland by 2030, the government press service announced Wednesday.In 2024, the area under water-saving irrigation reached 470,100 hectares, an increase of 158,000 hectares compared to 2023. The newly irrigated land includes 60,000 hectares using sprinkler systems, 40,000 hectares with drip irrigation, and 58,000 hectares leveled by laser-guided equipment.To encourage adoption of these technologies, the government has raised subsidies for farmers from 50% to 80% of the costs for drilling wells and installing water-saving systems. The move comes as Kazakhstan faces growing water shortages, prompting a shift away from water-intensive crops like wheat, cotton, and rice.The country also plans to begin construction on four new reservoirs in 2025 across the Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, and West Kazakhstan regions. By 2030, authorities aim to build 42 reservoirs, modernize 37 hydraulic structures, and upgrade 14,000 km of irrigation canals.These measures follow Kazakhstan's adoption of a new Water Code in March, which introduces the legal concept of "water security" to safeguard ecosystems and mitigate risks of water scarcity and pollution. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX