€6 million to be raised to upgrade irrigation infrastructure in Odesa region

Irrigation system modernised in Odesa Oblast, photo: Oleh Kiper, head of the Regional Water Authority

Odesa Oblast plans to raise more than €6 million to rebuild its irrigation infrastructure. These funds should help modernise key facilities and increase the efficiency of water supply to local lands.

This is stated in the Programme of Socio-Economic and Cultural Development of Odesa Region for 2026, published on the website of the regional council.

Currently, only 35-40 thousand hectares of the total 226.9 thousand hectares of irrigated land are irrigated, which significantly limits agricultural productivity, the programme says.

A project has already been developed to restore and modernise 12 state-owned reclamation facilities. Three of them are currently being implemented: Izmail, Tatarbunary and Nahirne. Over 106 million hryvnias has been allocated from the regional budget for these purposes.

In addition to government funding, the company plans to attract grants from Italian partners for the reconstruction, amounting to 6.1 million euros. These investments are aimed at modernising irrigation systems, which will make it possible to use water more efficiently, reduce losses and increase irrigation productivity.

According to experts, such steps are critical in the context of frequent droughts and climate change and will contribute to the food security of the region and Ukraine as a whole.

«Modernisation of irrigation systems will not only increase irrigation efficiency but also open up new opportunities for agriculture in Odesa region. As a result, the agricultural sector will be able to increase yields, improve crop resilience to climate change and attract additional investment in the development of the region», it is noted there.

As a reminder, in 2025, farmers in Mykolaiv region received more than 400 million hryvnias of state support.