ТASHKENT, January 13. /Dunyo IA/. In connection with the upcoming water shortage in Kazakhstan, the country plans to reconsider the structure of its sown areas, stated Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the international news agency “Kazinform”, southern regions of Kazakhstan - including the Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions bordering Uzbekistan depend on the transboundary Syrdarya River for 90 percent of their water needs. This year, Minister of Kazakhstan noted, water reserves in the river basin are significantly lower than last year’s levels, by 3.9 billion cubic meters.

A similar decline has been recorded in five southern regions of Kazakhstan, where the shortfall amounts to around 1.9 billion cubic meters compared to last year.

The agency quoted the minister as saying that given the current situation, in February we will provide final forecasts to all regional administrations and the Ministry of Agriculture, together with local executive bodies, will review the structure of sown areas.

In particular, he noted that rice cultivation in the Kyzylorda region is planned to be reduced to 70,000 hectares. In the Turkestan region, rice planting is proposed to decrease to 3,500 hectares, down from 16,000 hectares last year. Similar restrictions will also affect cotton cultivation.