The problems of drought and climate change are acute not only in the south but also in central Ukraine, so the country needs to irrigate more than 2 million hectares. Agricultural land.

About this Reports Press Service of the Ministry of Agriculture Policy and Food, referring to the Minister Roman Leshchenko.

“Problems with drought and temperature fluctuations are already severe not only in the south but also in the central region. About half of the Cherkasy region experienced a severe drought last year. For the first time in years, people harvested two tons of maize per hectare. At the time, they harvested 10-12 tons of maize per hectare, as they did 5 years ago.” – Said in a statement.

According to the minister, the government must carry out irrigation reforms, otherwise Ukraine will lose a large chernozem.

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“Land degradation, wind, water scarcity, land desertification – this is what leads to the loss of economic activity,” Leshchenko said.

He also announced the creation of a national operator to reform the water sector. The company will handle major canals, pumping stations and water users’ cooperatives – small and medium farmers who can receive state compensation for the cost of irrigation equipment.

In his opinion, this operator will be a public joint-stock company with international corporate governance standards. It can attract project funding, including from US institutions.

• According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, for 30 years Area of ​​irrigated land in Ukraine It has quadrupled – from 2.3 million hectares in the 1990s to 539,000 hectares in 2019 (excluding the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea).
• The government intends to launch a pilot this year Land Irrigation Project In three regions of Ukraine – Kherson, Odessa and Mykolayiv.
• In October 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a plan to implement the irrigation-drainage strategy in Ukraine until 2030. According to the government, the implementation of the strategy will attract investment in land reclamation.

Author:

Anna Nagorna