On 19 July, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy held a field meeting with the USAID AGRO Programme management team as part of the Land Reclamation Forum "Reforming and Restoring Land Reclamation".

The Chairman of the Committee, Alexander Gaidu, delivered a welcoming speech.

"Land reclamation reform started in a difficult period for Ukraine, in 2022. The Law on Water User Organisations adopted in February aims to restore and modernise reclamation systems, attract investment and change approaches to water management. Since then, farmers have been actively using this law, creating 43 water user organisations (WUOs).

Only Water of Life in the Odesa region was able to exercise its right to manage reclamation property," stressed Oleksandr Gaidu.

During the hearings, the participants discussed issues related to the need to comply with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine "On Organisations of Water Users and Stimulation of Hydraulic Land Reclamation".

Among the main topics discussed was the transfer of management authority over reclamation infrastructure from the State Agency for Water Resources to the State Agency for Fisheries, as well as the transfer of reclamation networks to the ownership of the DECs. This is a critical issue, as the condition of reclamation infrastructure is deteriorating with every year of delay, and its restoration will require more investment.

The committee hearings resulted in an open appeal to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by Alla STOIANOVA, who made a thorough analysis of the current state of irrigation and proposed effective mechanisms for addressing pressing issues, namely

- To amend and bring the "Strategy of Irrigation and Drainage in Ukraine" into line with the consequences of martial law in the country;

- To amend Article 133 of the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding the peculiarities of the non-profit status of water user organisations, to adopt draft law 5203;

- To work out the issue of exemption, cancellation or payment of VAT for state organisations with reclamation systems on their balance sheets when transferring reclamation system facilities to the ownership of the WEC;

- To support in the second reading the Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts on Improving the Management System of Engineering Infrastructure Facilities of State-Owned Land Reclamation Systems No. 7577 dated 21.07.2022;

- To amend the Law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Protection of the Interests of Owners of Land Shares (Units) and Application of Administrative Procedure in the Field of Land Relations" (No. 11150), taking into account the President's proposals, which will allow to cancel the need for a council's permission to develop and approve documentation and simplify the procedure for registering a land reclamation network with the SLC;

- Amend the Election Commission Law to introduce liability for failure to comply with it;

- Introduce tax breaks and other incentives for the use of water and energy-saving technologies in the agricultural sector for HVAC, taking into account the lack of electricity.

The appeal was supported by all participants and taken into account.

In addition, the concept of a new draft law developed by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy jointly with USAID AGRO experts and the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council was presented. The draft law aims to improve the Law on Water Users' Organisations, among other things:

1. Ensure that the needs of settlements in water are met on a priority basis in case of shortage.

2. Allowing water users who use water for other purposes, as well as territorial communities, to be founders and members of the WUC.

"The Land Reclamation Forum is an important step towards reforming water management in Ukraine. Restoration of irrigation during the war is not just an important issue, but vital for our people and the agricultural sector in particular. The tragedy at the Kakhovka Reservoir resulted in a fivefold reduction in irrigated land and was a bitter reminder of how fragile our food security is. This is not only a loss of water resources, but also a heavy blow to farmers who work every day to provide the country with bread.

Today we are facing a challenge that requires decisive action and united efforts. Restoring irrigation means restoring life in our fields and confidence in the future for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families.

In times of war, farmers are the first to come to the aid of the frontline, they are invisible heroes who continue to work despite all the hardships.

We have no right to give up, we cannot allow political games to endanger our fertile lands.

Every hectare of irrigated land is our hope, our strength, our contribution to the Victory. Restoring irrigation is not just a technical task, it is a moral obligation to those who defend our land and to future generations who must live in a free and prosperous Ukraine.

We need to act now, to join forces at all levels - from local communities to government agencies, from scientists to international partners. Restoring irrigation is our common task, our common goal. And together we can achieve it, despite all the difficulties and the war. Because Ukraine is our home, and we will do everything to make it flourish," says Alla STOYANOVA.

ACTING TOGETHER FOR VICTORY!