Half of pre-war times: in 2023, 16,000 hectares of irrigation systems were restored in Mykolaiv Oblast

In the Mykolayiv region, during 2023, it was possible to restore 16 thousand hectares of irrigation systems. This is more than half of the pre-war period.

This is evidenced by the data published in the «Program of Economic and Social Development of the Mykolaiv Region for 2024», NikVesti writes.

It is noted that in the pre-war period, 33 thousand hectares of land were irrigated annually with the help of irrigation systems. However, the consequences of the war significantly affected water management organizations that provide water for irrigation of agricultural crops. Last year, the land under irrigation decreased to 2.9 thousand hectares. In addition, land degradation has been observed over the past three years.

«According to the peculiarities of natural conditions, the Mykolayiv region is located in the zone of insufficient moisture and is a territory of risky agriculture. Artificial irrigation of agricultural land is one of the ways of increasing the volume of agricultural production,» the document says.

In 2023, it was possible to restore irrigated areas of land with an area of 16 thousand hectares, while ensuring compliance with water standards for drinking needs and irrigation.

«Taking into account climate changes, in particular global climate warming and drought, obtaining guaranteed harvests in the southern zone of Ukraine is impossible without the restoration of land irrigation in the food and resource supply of the region,» the document states.

Earlier it was reported that in the Mykolaiv region they want to expand the irrigation system of the land, which will make it possible to grow more vegetable crops.

We remind that during the temporary occupation of the Mykolayiv region, Russian troops hid in irrigation systems and used their slabs for shelter.

In addition, the head of the Snihurivka city military administration, Ivan Kukhta, stated that most of the damaged irrigation canals were not inspected due to the fact that there are still many mined places in the Mykolaiv region.