Agricultural Drought Threatens Food Security and Water Resources in Turkiye's Konya Closed Basin

Strategic Insights -

Agricultural drought, exacerbated by climate change, poses a significant threat to food security and water resources in semi-arid regions, including Turkiye's Konya Closed Basin. A recent study utilized satellite-derived indices to monitor agricultural drought and proposed a drought vulnerability map to support targeted water management strategies and policy interventions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated six satellite-derived indices, including the Vegetation Health Index (VHI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), and Soil Moisture Condition Index (SMCI), to monitor agricultural drought from 2001 to 2024.
  • The Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI) combines these indices with weighted contributions to spatially classify vulnerability in the Konya Closed Basin.
  • The results highlighted severe drought episodes in 2001, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2016, and 2020, with extreme vulnerability concentrated in the southern and central basin.
  • 38% of the agricultural area in the basin is classified as moderately vulnerable, while 29% is critically vulnerable, comprising 22% under high vulnerability and 7% under extreme vulnerability.
  • The proposed drought vulnerability map offers actionable support for targeted water management strategies and policy interventions in drought-prone agricultural systems.
  • The study integrates Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Climate Hazards Center InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS), and Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS) datasets to improve drought monitoring and management.
  • Research authors include Fatemeh Ghasempour, Sevim Seda Yamac, Aliihsan Sekertekin, Muzaffer Can Iban, and Senol Hakan Kutoglu from Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University.

Statistics:

  • 2001 had the most severe drought episode, followed by 2007, 2008, 2014, 2016, and 2020.
  • 38% of the agricultural area in the Konya Closed Basin is classified as moderately vulnerable to drought.
  • 29% of the agricultural area is critically vulnerable, comprised of 22% under high vulnerability and 7% under extreme vulnerability.
  • The drought vulnerability map offers actionable support for targeted water management strategies and policy interventions in drought-prone agricultural systems.

Sources:

  • Spatiotemporal Agricultural Drought Assessment and Mapping Its Vulnerability in a Semi-Arid Region Exhibiting Aridification Trends. Agriculture, 2025, 15(19): 2060 (Agriculture - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture)
  • NewsRx. Study Results from Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Broaden Understanding of Agriculture (Spatiotemporal Agricultural Drought Assessment and Mapping Its Vulnerability in a Semi-Arid Region Exhibiting Aridification Trends). Agriculture Week. October 30, 2025; p 456.