Irrigation and drainage strategy in Ukraine until 2030.

Irrigation and drainage strategy in Ukraine until 2030 is a nationwide cross-sectoral policy document is aimed at application of irrigation and drainage arrangements with a view of increase of crop yields two to three times, compared to rainy conditions, irrespectively of existing weather conditions. In the current circumstances, irrigation and drainage restoration is a key tool development of the agrarian sector of economy and increase of export potential of Ukraine, minimizing the impact of climate on the processes of socio-economic development of the regions.
The scope of the Strategy is to determine the strategic directions of public policy on irrigation and drainage, ensuring sustainable eco-balanced agriculture development in Ukraine.
The problems to be addressed shall be as follows: (a) inability of irrigation and drainage systems to perform functions of resource and ensuring food security for the state in years with adverse weather conditions due to extremely low utilization of available capacity; (b) imperfect legislation on water management and land reclamation, which leaves unsettled the issues that determine the conditions and opportunities for sustainable operation on a decentralized basis through involvement in the management and exploitation of water users as a basis for gradual transfer to self-financing of irrigation and drainage; (c) imperfection of water management and land reclamation system, which is characterized by a high degree of centralization, almost complete exclusion of water users from managing and setting tariffs for water supply and sewerage; expansion of irrigation areas and areas of water regulation; and (d) non-regulation of mechanisms of use of interfarm economic systems.
The scope of the Strategy shall be achieved through application of the following arrangements: (a) reforming the public administration system for irrigation and drainage through application of integrated water management based on the basin principle, accounting and separation of the function of water management (in particular implementation of public policy, water use planning and water distribution) from the function of water infrastructure management; (b) preservation and restoration of soil fertility, protection of territories and settlements from the harmful effects of water, achievement and maintenance of the good status of the river water basins; (c) restoration and expansion of the areas of irrigated lands, drainage systems; (d) promotion of the mechanism of public-private partnership; (e) stakeholder involvement in decision-making in the relevant field of public policy; (f) creating prerequisites for enhancing national competitiveness of agricultural production on the world market; (g) improving the quality of irrigation and drainage services and transparency of tariffs formation; and (h) support of scientific research, training of qualified personnel.
The Strategy is aimed at restoring the potential of irrigation and drainage systems to further increase irrigation and water management areas as the basics of maximizing efficiency and environmental security of agricultural production.