While the climate change has been felt the most in Mediterranean basin in Turkiye and the drought and water shortage increases every year, Turkiye will be "water-poor" country in the next 20-years according to experts, if necessary measures are not taken.
According to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology, the areal rainfall decreased by 20 percent since 2009 across Turkiye. According to the same report, in December 2017, the rainfall decreased by 29.2 percent from the normal amount in the whole of the country, while the decline from December 2016 rainfall was 31.7 percent. While it is weeks away from the end of the winter season, the fact that snow and rain do not fall in a significant part of the country still concerns both agricultural producers and climate experts.
Experts say that the rains should be at this stage for many agricultural crops to grow and water basins to be filled, arguing that barrenly winter will cause a greater danger than summer drought.
While the governments admit the decrease of rainfall each year across the country, they have the opinion that Turkiye is not faced with the risk of drought.
According to a study conducted by the World Bank, considering the population growth, Turkiye is getting closer every year to being a water-poor country.
ILKHA