Recently, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine transferred land reclamation systems under the control of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. We are talking about plans for the development of land reclamation with Taras Kot, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine.

What is the State Agency of Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine doing now?

The work of the commission on the transfer of integral property complexes to the State Agency for Land Reclamation and Fisheries has begun in accordance with the order of the CMU dated August 12, 2022 No. 714. A land reclamation department has already been established in the agency, working meetings are held regarding the property transfer process, we are preparing relevant documents. The process is going according to the plan, we have a large volume of paper work, which should be finished by September 12.

What tasks do you plan to solve to the end of the property transfer process?

A separate part of the work will be devoted to the development of the WUO, water users. The agency has already formed a relevant department whose work is aimed at supporting them.

It is important to convey to farmers an explanation about the formation of tariffs for water supply for irrigation, since the main issue that worries agricultural producers is the cost of water supply. It depends primarily on the cost of electricity in Ukraine.

Nowadays, water tariffs are calculated differently in each region. We are planning to develop general single rules, according to which agricultural land will be irrigated. The issue of tariffs will be settled, and appropriate clarifications will be provided - farmers will understand the components of water usage prices.

How did the war affect the development of reclamation in Ukraine?

The occupation of the southern regions will sooner or later end with the victory of Ukraine. Despite of the war, the development of reclamation in Ukraine will not stop. The land reclamation system operates in Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk and partly in Mykolaiv regions.

Currently, the dialogue between the state and producers is very important: where farmers need irrigation, which territories will be developed, where investments are the most appropriate. I consider the ability of specialists of the specialized ministry to speak the same language with farmers is a great advantage of subordinating melioration systems to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy. The State Agency of Land Reclamation and Fisheries of Ukraine is opened for communication.