The main consumer of water in Southwest Asia is agriculture. In this region, including countries like Jordan and others around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, agriculture accounts for the majority of water usage—up to 80% in some countries—despite contributing less than 10% to GDP. Most crops require irrigation due to limited rainfall, which leads to intensive water use in farming practices.
This high agricultural water demand poses challenges such as soil salinization from irrigation and pollution from fertilizers and pesticides, which further strain water resources. Efficient water management and sustainable agricultural practices are vital to addressing these issues and securing the water supply in Southwest Asia.
