At a government meeting held on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbaev voiced a concerning forecast for 2026. In the Kyzylorda, Turkestan, and Zhambyl regions, a water shortage is expected to reach up to 1 billion cubic meters.
As Bozumbaev noted, these regions continue to experience a low-water period. Specifically, the inflow to the Shardara Reservoir has decreased by 43%, and the total volume of water in the major water bodies of the Naryn-Syrdarya cascade is 3.8 billion cubic meters less than last year. In the Zhambyl region, the reservoir filling level is only 41%.
The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the projected inflow of water for the 2026 growing season will be only 1-1.5 billion cubic meters, which creates a serious risk of a deficit of up to 1 billion cubic meters. He also emphasized that in several regions, planned targets for reducing water-intensive crops have not been met.
To ensure a successful irrigation season, the government has decided to implement strict regulation of water resources. In particular, the ministries of agriculture and water resources, as well as the regional akimats, will create a working group that will establish limits on water usage and approve agricultural crop planting plans within two weeks, taking into account the projected water inflow volumes.
Bozumbaev also instructed the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation to present updated water consumption limits for all regions by February 1, 2026, based on the most pessimistic scenario. The Ministry of Agriculture, in turn, must adjust the crop structure according to the established limits by March 1.
The akimats have been tasked with conducting outreach among agricultural producers about the need to reduce water-intensive crops and transition to less water-consuming ones. To test innovative moisture-retaining agents, at least 100 hectares will be allocated in each region, with funding provided from local budgets.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the RGP "Kazvodkhoz" will enter into contracts for the supply of irrigation water only within the approved limits. Additionally, by February 1, the ministries of water resources and internal affairs must present the government with a detailed plan to combat the "black market" of water.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted that the Ministry of Agriculture has developed a schedule for diversifying planting areas. He warned that all further work must comply with this schedule. In the event of exceeding the established norms for planting, even by 1 hectare, no water will be provided, and any losses incurred by farmers will not be compensated from the budget. This decision must be communicated to all stakeholders.
