During the international conference BLACK SEA GRAIN. KYIV-2026, representatives of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) took part in a panel discussion on the development of land reclamation and the expansion of irrigated areas in Ukraine.

Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) Denys Marchuk emphasized that UAC has been one of the key drivers of irrigation reform, in particular advocating for the adoption of the law on water user organizations.

“Without объединення water users into such structures, it is impossible to ensure the efficient functioning of irrigation systems and their further development,” Denys Marchuk noted.

He also highlighted the importance of the second stage of the reform — the Law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts on Improving the Management System of Engineering Infrastructure of State-Owned Irrigation Systems.”

Denys Marchuk added that UAC had carried out significant work to ensure the adoption of this law, as without it the reform would not have been complete.

The discussion also featured the UAC member, Lesia Tochytska, Chairman of the Water User Organization “Lesyni Dzherela”. She focused on practical aspects of irrigation development and shared the experience of developing land reclamation at her enterprise, which was relocated from Kherson region to Zhytomyr region.

“Today, it is important to focus on solutions that require practical action. In particular, environmental impact assessment procedures should not be applied to existing irrigation systems, as this would hinder their restoration and modernization,” she noted.

According to her, another strategic priority should be the development of water storage systems in the agricultural sector.

“Addressing the issue of water resource storage is key to ensuring the stable operation of the agricultural sector under climate change conditions,” Lesia Tochytska stressed.