World Bank approves $819M for Türkiye to modernize irrigation and boost water efficiency

The World Bank Board has approved $819 million in financing to increase food production, enhance water efficiency for more than 550,000 people in Türkiye.

Türkiye is water-stressed with water scarcity threatening important fertile areas. Moreover, current projections indicate that this situation will become more challenging in the coming years. Yet irrigation systems are largely inefficient, using infrastructure which in many cases is based on open channels that are highly susceptible to water losses from seepage and evaporation.

The Türkiye Second Irrigation Modernization and Water Efficiency Project, approved today, will facilitate the modernization of irrigation systems across 72,000 hectares, benefiting at least 50,000 farms in areas experiencing worsening climate conditions, including extreme heat, drought and flooding.

With the agricultural sector consuming 85% of the country’s available water resources, this project gives continuation to an earlier program aimed at modernizing irrigation infrastructure and water delivery systems to conserve water.

“Türkiye is the world’s ninth largest producer of agricultural products, with the agricultural sector accounting for 6% of the national economy and 20% of employment. Thus, the need to take a comprehensive approach to water efficiency is not only a climate change concern but also an economic concern in order to protect the sector and expand agricultural jobs. The World Bank is delighted to support efforts that will help conserve water, build resilience, increase agricultural productivity and production and protect rural livelihoods,” said Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Türkiye.  

The Türkiye Second Irrigation Modernization and Water Efficiency Project will serve farmers in and around central Anatolia region and Antalya province, targeting a population of over 550,000 people. Among the impacts it will achieve are reduced water loss in conveyance and on-and-off farm irrigation, increased crop production and availability of food, and build resilience against extreme weather events.

The project is part of broader World Bank support for more efficient water management efforts in Türkiye. Other water related projects include the ongoing Irrigation Modernization Project and the Türkiye Water Circularity and Efficiency Improvement Project.

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