Irrigated cropland grows 6% in southern Ukraine in 2023

MOSCOW. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Water management entities of the Ukrainian State Agency of Melioration, Fishery and Food Programs increased water supply to agrarians by 6% in 2023 to irrigate about 30,000 hectares of land in the Odessa and Nikolayev regions and in the Kiev-controlled part of the Zaporozhye region, Ukrainian media said, citing the agency's press service.

According to the report, over 100 million cubic meters of water were pumped by 120 stations, up 25% from the year before.

The Kiliya department serviced the largest irrigation area: over 58 million cubic meters of water were supplied to more than 10,000 hectares of cropland, it said.

"Owing to fruitful cooperation between water management entities and agrarians during the irrigation season 2023, Ukrainians have been provided with quality agricultural produce, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, peaches, apples, grapes and many others," the agency said.

The agency noted that the irrigation season ended with fall irrigation to guarantee next year's harvest.