Restoration and development of the domestic irrigation systems should become the priority issue of agricultural policy. First of all, the Government has to modernize the irrigation system in the south of Ukraine. In particular, the general areas of additional irrigation with available capacities will possibility total 635 thsd ha, declared the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Oleksiy Pavlenko.

According to him, increasing of the irrigated areas should be realized through modernization and reconstruction of irrigation on the internal farm lands. Designing and construction of new systems is necessary to realize at the second stage of irrigation development. In addition, modernization and reconstruction of irrigation systems should be based on usage of new methods and technologies of irrigation, drip irrigation systems, and low-pressure sprinkler systems.

The Minister stressed that it is necessary to realize a series of measures aimed at reducing the cost of electric power for irrigation. In particular, it is necessary to transfer electricity bills of water supplying for irrigation at the tariffs for 1-class consumers, and make irrigation operations at night with payment for power supplying at reduced rates, etc. Such actions make it possible to reduce the power costs by 30-50%.

Renovation and development of the irrigation system should be realized on the basis of investment projects. Irrigation efficiency and return of investments will also be provided through growing of highly profitable crops, added O.Pavlenko.

apk-inform.com