Kazakhstan's Irrigation Overhaul: Less Waste, Better Harvests

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/06/16/kazakhstans-irrigation-overhaul-less-waste-better-harvests?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM284328 STORY HIGHLIGHTS From sunbaked fields in Makhtaral to rice paddies in Kyzylkum, a decade-long investment in water infrastructure is transforming how hundreds of thousands of farmers in southern Kazakhstan grow, irrigate, and thrive. With World Bank support, Kazakhstan has modernized over 800 kilometers of canals and water management across four regions, improving irrigation and drainage services for more than 100,000 hectares of farmland. For rural communities dependent on agriculture for their income, the impact of these efforts is immense — boosting yields, creating jobs, and securing water for generations to come.