Türkiye modernizes irrigation systems to enhance water savings | Daily Sabah – Daily Sabah

Report on Türkiye’s Agricultural and Water Management Strategy in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through Enhanced Agricultural Productivity

The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has outlined a strategic plan to bolster food security and promote sustainable agriculture, directly contributing to SDG 2. Key initiatives focus on increasing the productivity and efficiency of agricultural lands.

• Expansion of Irrigable Land: To increase food production capacity, an additional 64,000 hectares of agricultural land will be opened for irrigation in 2026. This will expand Türkiye’s total irrigated area to 7.334 million hectares, a critical step toward achieving zero hunger.
• Sustainable Land Management and Consolidation: To enhance farming efficiency and support sustainable land use, land consolidation projects are being accelerated.
  1. The total consolidated land area is projected to reach 9.6 million hectares by the end of 2025.
  2. In 2026, consolidation will begin on an additional 450,000 hectares, with registration to be completed for 352,000 hectares.
• Informed Land Use Planning: In support of SDG 2.4 (ensure sustainable food production systems), detailed soil surveys and mapping are being conducted. The total area covered is expected to increase from 3.6 million hectares in 2025 to 5.4 million hectares by 2026, enabling more effective and sustainable agricultural practices.

Promoting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) via Efficient Water Resource Management

Recognizing that agriculture is the largest consumer of Türkiye’s limited water resources, the DSI is implementing measures to significantly improve water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable water management, in line with SDG 6.

1. Modernization of Irrigation Infrastructure: A primary goal is to upgrade outdated irrigation systems to reduce water loss.
   • The strategy involves shifting from traditional canal and ditch systems to modern, closed-pipe irrigation technologies.
   • As of last year, 36% of systems were modern piped networks, and new projects will prioritize this technology to achieve substantial water savings.
   • Renovation is currently underway on 80 irrigation facilities covering 254,000 hectares.
2. Enhancement of Water Storage Capacity: To ensure a stable water supply for agriculture, investments in water storage infrastructure continue. With the completion of 22 dams and seven reservoirs this year, Türkiye’s total water storage capacity will increase to 183,739 cubic hectometers across 1,802 facilities.
3. Implementation of Water Conservation and Monitoring: To encourage responsible water consumption (SDG 6.4), pricing mechanisms based on actual usage are being implemented.
   • Installation of water meters on irrigation networks is a key component of this effort.
   • By the end of last year, 56,550 meters were installed, with an additional 12,000 planned for this year.

Integrating SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The comprehensive strategy integrates principles of sustainable resource management, addressing both responsible production patterns and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.

• Sustainable Production Systems: The transition to modern, water-efficient irrigation and the promotion of advanced farming techniques align directly with SDG 12, fostering sustainable production patterns within the agricultural sector.
• Protection and Restoration of Land: Efforts to prevent the misuse of farmland, reclaim fallow land, and conduct detailed soil mapping contribute to SDG 15.3 (combat desertification and restore degraded land). These actions are fundamental to protecting “Life on Land” by ensuring the long-term health and productivity of agricultural ecosystems.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article directly addresses SDG 2 by focusing on enhancing agricultural productivity to meet rising food demand. Initiatives such as expanding irrigated agricultural land, disseminating modern farming techniques, reclaiming fallow land, and implementing land consolidation projects are all aimed at strengthening food production systems.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• This goal is central to the article, which details Türkiye’s strategy for managing its limited water resources. The text highlights the importance of efficient water use in agriculture, which is the largest consumer of water. Efforts to upgrade irrigation infrastructure to modern, water-saving technologies, build water storage facilities like dams and reservoirs, and implement consumption-based water pricing are all direct contributions to this SDG.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article connects to SDG 15 through its emphasis on sustainable land management. The comprehensive initiatives to protect agricultural lands, prevent their misuse, reclaim fallow land, and conduct detailed soil surveys and mapping contribute to the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and the restoration of degraded land.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

1. Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.

   The article supports this target through its focus on “disseminating modern farming techniques to enhance productivity.” By improving methods and infrastructure, the potential for increased yields and efficiency is raised.

2. Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.

   This target is addressed by the article’s comprehensive approach, which includes expanding irrigation to make agriculture more resilient to drought, protecting existing farmland from misuse, and implementing land consolidation to create more efficient and sustainable farming units.

Targets under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

1. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals of freshwater.

   The article directly addresses this by stating that “Efficient water use in agriculture remains a strategic priority.” Actions mentioned include “upgrading outdated canal and ditch irrigation systems to modern closed-pipe irrigation technologies that enhance water-use efficiency” and implementing “pricing mechanisms based on actual water consumption.”

2. Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels.

   The coordinated efforts of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) described in the article—spanning infrastructure development (dams, reservoirs), technological upgrades (piped irrigation), land management (consolidation), and policy (water metering and pricing)—exemplify an integrated approach to managing national water resources.

Targets under SDG 15 (Life on Land)

1. Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil.

   The article’s mention of initiatives to “reclaiming fallow land to bring it back into active production” and conducting “detailed soil surveys and mapping studies” are direct actions toward restoring land and preventing degradation, which aligns with this target.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

1. Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture.

   The article provides several quantifiable metrics that can serve as proxies for this indicator. These include the total irrigated area (projected to be 7.334 million hectares in 2026), the total consolidated land area (projected to reach 9.6 million hectares by 2025), and the expansion of modern farming techniques.

Indicators for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

1. Indicator 6.4.1: Change in water-use efficiency over time.

   Progress can be measured by the data provided on the shift in irrigation system types. The article notes that as of last year, 36% of systems were modern piped irrigation, and “New projects will focus primarily on piped systems, aiming to substantially increase their share.” The installation of water meters (56,550 installed, with 12,000 more planned) provides the direct data needed to calculate and monitor water consumption and efficiency.

2. Implied Indicator for Target 6.5: Water storage capacity.

   The article provides specific figures on water storage infrastructure, which is a key component of integrated water management. It states the total capacity will increase to 183,739 cubic hectometers with the completion of 22 new dams and seven reservoirs, indicating progress in securing water resources.

Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)

1. Implied Indicator for Target 15.3: Area of land with completed soil surveys and mapping.

   The article provides a clear metric for monitoring land health and planning sustainable use. It states that the cumulative area with completed soil surveys is expected to expand from 3.6 million hectares in 2025 to 5.4 million hectares by 2026, which is a direct measure of progress in understanding and managing land resources.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dailysabah.com