The Ukrainian Agri Council took part in the Reclamation Forum "Comprehensive reform in the hydrotechnical reclamation sector of Ukraine", which took place in Kyiv on September 28 and united agrarians and the authorities to overcome the consequences of climate change and ensure food security.

Every year, due to the lack of irrigation, Ukraine does not receive about 8 million tons of grain, 3.5 million tons of industrial crops, and 11 million tons of fruit and vegetables.

"Due to Russia's military aggression, losses to the agricultural sector of hydrotechnical melioration are estimated at $200 million," said Serhii Kubakh, Land Reform Team Lead at the USAID AGRO Activity. 

He mentioned that according to the plan of Ukraine’s recovery "New Agrarian Policy", the development of reclamation systems requires $4 billion. The plan is expected to 2032. In the first stage, from January 2023 to December 2025, $621 million is needed to restore irrigation and build new irrigation systems and supporting infrastructure of ​​240,000 hectares.

"Today, both irrigated and drained lands are 5.5 million hectares, but only 1% is irrigated," - added Serhii Kubakh.

Andrii Dykun, Chair of the Ukrainian Agri Council, emphasized the importance of irrigation for food security and the need to support farmers in the occupied territories:

"We all have a common goal – to restore irrigation, it is extremely important for Ukraine's food security. We are waiting for the full launch of pilot irrigation projects in those territories where it is possible. The important thing is the support of Ukrainian farmers in the occupied territories and the development of irrigation after deoccupation. Here we need to adopt two draft laws on collaboration: 7646 and 7647. To sum up, I’m saying that we need to act and move the reform despite the war. And also to complete the transfer of all reclamation systems, including channels of state importance, this year." 

Taras Kot, the First Deputy Chair of the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine, reminded that in August the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine handed over land reclamation systems to the Ministry of Agriculture. The first task was the transfer all property complexes to the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries. A new land reclamation department was established in the agency, and the property transfer process is almost complete.

"As of today, all acts of property complexes transfer have been processed, the re-registration process has begun for 30 enterprises, we will complete everything in the near future," said Taras Kot.

And he also emphasized the possibility of energy generation for own needs: "An interesting project is the generation of electricity, there is a technical possibility for generation, we consider this direction to be promising".

According to the results of the forum and round table of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on issues of agrarian and land policy regarding the discussion of legislative initiatives in the field of hydrotechnical reclamation and the implementation of its reform, a corresponding resolution was signed to support irrigation in Ukraine.