Ukraine has received its first international grant for large-scale modernization of hydraulic reclamation. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law ratifying an intergovernmental agreement with Italy, which allocates 6 million euros for the upgrade of the Tatarbunar and Kiliya irrigation systems in the Odesa region.
This is reported by Finway
Key Objectives of the Modernization Project
The grant funds will be directed towards replacing outdated pumping equipment, fully cleaning and restoring irrigation canals, as well as implementing modern automated water supply management systems. These steps will significantly reduce unproductive water losses, optimize irrigation regimes, and ensure more rational use of water resources, which is particularly relevant in the context of climate change.
Impact on Agriculture
As a result of the project’s implementation, over 50 agricultural producers in southern Odesa — including 43 users of the Tatarbunar system and 7 users of the Kiliya system — will receive stable irrigation for their lands. This will provide water for tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land, increase yields, and contribute to the development of the region’s agricultural sector.
“Such agreements open up opportunities for systematic modernization of the irrigation infrastructure in southern Ukraine. It is not just about the technical upgrade of individual facilities ‒ the modernization of systems is also aimed at achieving water-ecological goals, including reducing water losses, minimizing unproductive water use, and more rational resource management,” said Deputy Minister of Economy Iryna Ovcharenko.