Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi discussed the restoration and development of irrigation systems, preparation of a Master Plan and implementation of joint investment projects during an online meeting with representatives of the World Bank.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported this.
Vysotskyi stressed that the Master Plan, prepared with the support of the World Bank, should become a practical tool for identifying priority investments.
“It is important for us to move from analysis and planning to concrete projects. The Master Plan provides this opportunity. We have identified priority areas and understand the investment required. The next step is practical implementation,” the minister said.
The Master Plan includes 25 priority stages for the development and restoration of irrigation across approximately 913,000 hectares. The estimated investment required for their implementation is €5.9 billion.
The parties also discussed preparations for the RIVERS project, which provides for the modernisation of irrigation systems and water resource management in the Odessa region.
“The modernisation of irrigation systems must be combined with a guaranteed water supply. We therefore need to work comprehensively on canals, pumping stations, locks and water bodies. Automation and energy independence are also important components,” Vysotskyi stressed.
RIVERS also envisages the creation of a national digital platform for water resource planning and management, as well as improvements to the legislative and institutional framework for irrigation. The project’s total financing requirement is estimated at $100 million.
World Bank representatives confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation with Ukraine and move from analytical work to the implementation of concrete projects.
The World Bank also announced that it is preparing a new Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, RDNA6, which will include the agricultural sector and irrigation infrastructure.
