Of the 31 million hectares of land in Ukraine, more than half are located in water scarcity zones.
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If urgent measures are not taken, then by 2050 the area of dry land may increase up to 30%, reports the chairman of the Clean Dnieper Dmitry Nadeyev.
Ukraine really needs an effective policy for the conservation and use of water. Currently, 18 million hectares are areas with insufficient moisture; 3 million hectares are under stress due to a critical lack of water.
Despite the network of reservoirs on the Dnieper and other rivers, the country still has regions suffering from insufficient soil moisture. Lack also concerns drinking water. In 1.3 thousand settlements, it is imported. The forecast is the most unfavorable. After 10-15 years, the country may experience severe water shortages, when the population will have to fight for water with industrial and agricultural facilities.
Dmitry Nadeyev recalled that the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in 2017 announced the Irrigation and Drainage Strategy in Ukraine until 2030. It includes the resumption of irrigation of 1.2 million hectares of the territory. Particular attention is paid to soils near reservoirs and large main canals with pumping stations. Irrigation of such areas will make it possible to use them for growing agricultural products. This can give a profit of UAH 135 billion per year, Dmitry Nadeev summed up.
