Professor Dr. Yusuf Demir stated, "Nearly three-quarters of Türkiye experienced insufficient snowfall, or none at all. This has seriously concerned us in terms of agricultural production and productivity."

Professor Dr. Yusuf Demir, Head of the Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), noted, "Nearly three-quarters of Türkiye experienced insufficient snowfall, or none at all. This situation has seriously concerned us both in terms of resources, meaning underground water, and in terms of future agricultural production and productivity. This is because snowfall is the main source of replenishment for groundwater."

"Over 1 billion people have to live on 2 liters of water a day"

On the occasion of World Water Day on March 22, Demir mentioned to journalists that this year's events, themed "Leveraging water for peace," aim to show how fair and sustainable management of water resources can contribute to global peace and security.

Demir, highlighting the impact of climate change, natural disasters, and changes in precipitation regimes worldwide and in Türkiye, warned, "Experts predict these effects will continue to increase in the coming years. Every day, 6,000 people die from water-related crises. More than 2.4 billion people worldwide lack sufficient access to water; over 1 billion people have to live on 2 liters of water daily. It's a reality that in the next 20-30 years, more than 40% of the world will face a water crisis."

Pointing out that Türkiye has been experiencing water stress for years, Demir expressed concerns about the country rapidly moving towards becoming water-scarce. "We are aware that our water is limited and must be used wisely. The prospect of continuing trends in global climate, natural disasters, and meteorological data seriously concerns us," he stated.

"It's high time we acted for our grandchildren"

Demir drew attention to significant changes in Türkiye's precipitation regime over the past year, adding, "Nearly three-quarters of Turkey experienced insufficient or no snowfall at all. This has seriously concerned us both regarding resources, meaning underground aspects, and agricultural production and productivity in the upcoming period, as snowfall is the main source of replenishment for groundwater. Additionally, for agricultural production, the need for plants to experience cold and for seeds to remain under snow for certain periods is important for productivity. The time has long passed for every citizen of this country to do their part in leaving a green and sustainable world for our grandchildren, ensuring they have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Lack of water should not be our fate or future. I celebrate World Water Day with this message, calling for awareness and action from everyone."