Kazakhstan may face drought

Kazakhstan may face drought this spring as a similar phenomenon has hit Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Arsen Zhakanbaev said.

Report informs via TASS that the problem lies with the drought that influenced the water resources of the neighboring countries.

"The volume of water in the Toktogul reservoir of Kyrgyzstan is 300 million cubic meters less than last year. And the volume of water in the Chirchik basin is 100 million cubic meters less than last year. Therefore, the amount of incoming water is small. Problems may arise this year due to shortage of this water," Zhakanbaev said at a meeting of the Committee on Agrarian Issues of the Mazhilis of Kazakhstan.

According to the official, the Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions of the republic are at risk. Local authorities have already been advised to reduce the sowing of rice, as this crop requires the most water.