The authorities of the Kherson region intend to attract investment in updating on-farm irrigation systems and the purchase of sprinkling equipment, as reported by the chairman of the regional state administration Yuri Gusev.
The meeting examined the prospects for the development of irrigation in the southern part of the country, as well as the use of land for irrigation and the possibility of restoring irrigation.
As Yuri Gusev said, without a workable irrigation system the Kherson region cannot be competitive. The irrigated area of the region is considered an insurance fund for sustainable agriculture, especially during times of drought. Considering budget constraints, now we need to search for additional resources to restore watering.
Now in the Kherson region 427.1 thousand hectares. areas under irrigation, while irrigation systems are not fully utilized. Only 320 thousand ha are irrigated.
Based on this, as Gusev says, it is necessary to accelerate the process of adopting the Irrigation and Drainage Strategy of Ukraine until 2030. The Kherson region should develop a number of pilot projects and show the whole country that irrigated areas can be restored without attracting budget funds, but by working with international organizations.
If you solve the above problems, the irrigated land will be used more efficiently, which will attract funds for the restoration of the irrigation network and the purchase of irrigation equipment, and will also improve the economic efficiency of irrigated agriculture, Yuri Gusev summed up.
