Enhancing agricultural water productivity through water footprint analysis under semi-arid conditions: a case study from Türkiye

The growing global population necessitates improvements in agricultural water use productivity to ensure sustainable production systems. As agriculture accounts for the largest share of global freshwater consumption, enhancing agricultural productivity is essential for the long-term sustainability of water resources. In this context, the water footprint has emerged as a comprehensive indicator of water-use productivity, encompassing both direct and indirect consumption. This study investigates agricultural water-use productivity through a detailed water-footprint analysis, using Aydın Province in Türkiye as a case study. Results show that the total water footprint of crop production in the region is approximately 1238.86 million cubic meters (MCM). In livestock sector, it reaches 2069.73 MCM, with 1039.67 MCM attributable to animal husbandry and 1030.06 MCM to livestock-derived products. These findings underscore the substantial water demand of agricultural activities and highlight the urgent need to adopt efficient water management practices.