A pilot project has been launched in Ukraine to create Water Users’ Organizations (WUOs), non-profit farmers’ associations, which will take over irrigation system facilities for further modernization and development. The project is implemented by the UAC and USAID’s Agricultural Growing Opportunities Activity in Ukraine (AGRO).

This issue was discussed during the press conference "Irrigation Restoration: presentation of a pilot project to create Water Users’ Organizations

The creation of WUOs as a basic element in the management of lower-level reclamation systems is provided by the bill №5202-d, which is scheduled to be considered by parliament in the first reading this week. WUOs are responsible for the maintaining and upgrading irrigation systems. In this way, farmers receive a legislative instrument that will encourage investment in irrigation.

According to Serhii Kubakh, Head of Land Reform for USAID's Agricultural and Rural Development Program (AGRO), the adoption of the bill №5202-d and the creation of WUOs are one of three points of strategic goals in direct access of agricultural producers to effective and affordable growing, as the implementation of the USAID AGRO program in Ukraine.

"The expected result of the implementation of our initiatives should be an increase in irrigated agricultural land, the possibility for additional investment and production growth. All these will increase the cost of agricultural land, as well as increase revenues to local budgets. That means that the irrigation reform itself and the changes we support should lead to an increase in living standards in rural areas and to the growth of the country's economy as a whole," Serhii Kubakh said.

The UAC Deputy Chairman Mykhailo Sokolov mentioned that restoration of irrigation system could bring Ukraine UAH135 billion per year. However, reclamation systems are currently in critical condition: of the 2.3 million hectares of irrigated land that Ukraine had at the beginning of independence, just over 500,000 hectares are currently irrigated. At the same time, against the background of climate changings in Ukraine, the issue of irrigation is extremely acute. According to scientists, by 2050 in Ukraine up to 47% of agricultural land will be in the zone of arid or very arid climate.

"What prevents us from developing irrigation? This requires huge investments. In addition, the delivery of water to the fields needs the primary expenses. Of course, the main canals and pumping stations also need modernization and be fixed, but in terms of cost allocation, the main volume, three quarters, is a low-level irrigation system. These are pumping stations that take water from the main canal and supply it to the field through a system of pipes. The cost of their modernization can be estimated at about USD4 billiard. It is clear enough that the state does not have such funds now, but farmers do. Unfortunately, the current law base is made in such a way that farmers cannot invest in irrigation or get some credits. And we are sure that the bill 5202-d can solve this problem," Mykhailo Sokolov said.

The practical implementation of the bill 5202-d will be a pilot project to establish Water Users’ Organizations. Although Kherson region has been chosen for its implementation, it is possible to implement it in other regions where it is needed. This statement was emphasized by Roman Fedorchenko, the UAC consultant in the project "Development and implementation of a pilot project for the establishment of Water Users’ Organizations in Kherson region".

The main task of the project is to create preconditions for WUOs functioning, using the proposed reliable and effective operational and legal models, the development of which is the task of the UAC. WUOs’ operational and legal models, which comply with the bill 5202-d, continue to develop. For October and November, practical seminars are planned. There WUOs’ model and technical possibilities for expanding the irrigation area will be presented.

"I want to notify that WUOs will not be controlled by someone from Kyiv or regional state administrations. First of all, this a public formation of farmers who are interested in the development of irrigation, because it directly affects their activity. We are ready to provide comprehensive support for the establishment of WUOs: to help establish communication with the enterprises of the State Water Agency, to tell how to keep accounting and tax reporting, to provide algorithms for the constituent assembly, samples of constituent documents, etc. We hope that the project will give a strong impetus the functioning of land reclamation reform in Ukraine," Roman Fedorchenko said.

Chairman of the subcommittee on economic and financial policy in the agro-industrial complex Artem Chornomorov asserted that 2020-2021 was the driest year in the last decade. Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad and Kherson regions were harmed the most.

"We have received a number of appeals from farmers regarding compensation for lost crops. The mechanism was developed, farmers received partial compensation. But we still need to restore irrigation in Ukraine. And the bill 5202-d allows farmers to do this. This law is about the future, about investments, about their preservation. When irrigation systems are transferred to farmers who are interested in their development, it is their investments that will help to develop irrigation in southern Ukraine. The development of irrigation will give an impetus to increase land prices and increase yields in the southern regions," the deputy said.

“The state, together with all stakeholders, has taken a comprehensive approach to the issue of restoring irrigation,” First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi said.

“In 2019, a strategy for the development of irrigation and drainage was adopted. In 2020, we adopted a clear plan for its implementation. Today, the development of irrigation is a strategic issue that was raised at the meetings of the National Security and Defense Council. Thanks to the UAC and USAID AGRO, practical steps are being taken to make the draft law on the establishment of WUOs work. Adoption of the bill 5202-d in the first reading will be a signal for agricultural producers to invest in irrigation for the next season. The Ministry will support us anyway and we hope that 2022 will be a successful start to the irrigation reform, as it was with the land reform,” Taras Vysotskyi said.

We will remind, the pilot project on creation of WUOs will continue for two years. During this time, experts of the UAC in cooperation with the WUOs and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy will provide information support to farmers: explain the legal and technical issues, meet with farmers, help to create WUOs and support them at the beginning of its activities, etc. As a result of the project implementation, recommendations and templates of all necessary documents for the creation and development of new WUOs throughout the country will be developed.

Contact person for those who wish to join WUOs:

• Olha Chuveieva, the UAC Director of Regional Development
• Tel.: +380674721244
• E-mail: - info@uacouncil.org