WB calls on Azerbaijan to modernize irrigation, introduce resistant crop varieties

Azerbaijan faces severe water shortages, with approximately 70% of its water coming from transboundary sources, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change and dependent on cooperation with neighboring countries, Stefanie Stallmeister, World Bank country manager for Azerbaijan, said on the third day of the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW2025), Report informs.

She stated that global climate challenges require a multilateral approach, and both regional cooperation and domestic water management reforms are vital for Azerbaijan.

"Considering that 70% of its water comes from transboundary sources, the country is heavily dependent on the water resources of other countries, which underscores the need for regional cooperation," she noted.

Stallmeister emphasized that Azerbaijan is already taking steps to improve water efficiency, including modernizing irrigation systems and developing climate-resilient agriculture. However, she said, more needs to be done – introducing drought- and salt-tolerant crop varieties, more actively using new technologies, and expanding international cooperation.

"Organizations like the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank can facilitate knowledge sharing and partnerships. We don't need to reinvent the wheel," the World Bank representative added.