Central Asia is once again discussing the summer’s most important resource: water. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan have begun negotiations on how the upcoming irrigation season will proceed and whether farmers in southern Kazakhstan will be able to avoid water shortages during the hottest period of the year, reports  DKNews.kz .
The issue concerns the supply of water via the Dostyk interstate canal to the Maktaaral and Zhetysay districts of the Turkestan region—a region where virtually the entire harvest depends on stable irrigation.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov took part in a trilateral meeting with representatives of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The main topic of the meeting was the operating mode of the Bahri-Tojik reservoir for June–August 2026.
The meeting was also attended by:
- Daler Juma
- Shavkat Khamraev
- Zhurabek Mirzamakhmudov
Why is this important?
For southern Kazakhstan, a summer without water means the risk of crop loss.
This is especially true for:
- cotton;
- vegetables;
- melons and gourds;
- forage plants.
This is why water negotiations in Central Asia have long ceased to be mere “working meetings between officials.” These decisions directly impact the agricultural sector and even food prices.
What the countries discussed
The parties presented proposals on how the reservoir will operate during periods of peak load.
Main objective:
ensure a stable supply of water through the Dostyk Canal
This canal is critically important for farmers in the Maktaaral and Zhetisay districts.
Following the meeting, the countries agreed to continue consultations on individual points of the joint protocol.
The main quote of the meeting
“Year after year, our joint work ensures the equitable distribution of transboundary water resources. Kazakhstan confirms its readiness to continue collaborating to ensure stable water management in the Syr Darya River basin. It is crucial for us that decisions taken take into account the interests of all parties,” noted Nurzhan Nurzhigitov.
Why the topic of water is becoming more pressing
Central Asia has been facing growing water shortages for several years.
The reasons are obvious:
- hot summer;
- growth in consumption;
- climate change;
- load on transboundary rivers.
Against this background, the Syr Darya is effectively becoming a strategic resource for the region.
This is why every such agreement between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan now affects not only farmers but also food security for the entire region.
What happens next?
The parties are still agreeing on the final parameters for the reservoir’s operation.
But the main thing is already clear:
Countries are trying to avoid a water crisis before the hottest period of summer begins.