Insufficient regional cooperation could lead to a shortage of irrigation water in Central Asian countries by 2050, Eastfruit reports referring to Eurasian Development Bank.
The lack of water resources is identified as the main source of structural constraints for these countries. The scarcity of water will also limit the expansion of agricultural land. The report suggests that improving the management efficiency of the Central Asian water and energy complex, using water-saving technologies, and economic integration could help solve the issue of food security. The report also notes that the economic sectors of Central Asian countries are characterized by high energy and water consumption.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) states that Central Asian countries have sufficient water resources per capita, but they are among the top ten water users in the world due to irrational use. The inefficient organization of water use in agriculture and industry, as well as the unsatisfactory state of water infrastructure and insufficient funds allocated for its maintenance and development, have contributed to the water shortage in the region. Water intake per capita in Central Asia has halved compared to Soviet times, and the countries of Central Asia continue to experience water shortages.
According to experts from Northwest A&F University of China's Shaanxi Province and employees of China's Ministry of Water Resources, Central Asia is the most problematic region where significant wastage is allowed in the use of water resources. The experts believe that the rational use of water and land resources in the region could save 56 percent of water and feed 387 million people.
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