Implementation of irrigation and drainage strategy: Political, economic and cultural aspects

The article is devoted to the current problems of institutional reform to attract investment in the modernisation and rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and cover the costs of its operation. To address these issues, in 2019 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Irrigation and Drainage Strategy until 2030 and in 2020 a corresponding action plan for its implementation. However, the reform process is delayed conditioned upon systemic environmental, economic and cultural problems that create obstacles to change, primarily in the development and adoption of legislation regulating the formation and operation of new institutions (water user associations and management of state reclamation systems, etc.). The purpose of the article was to present the results of analytical studies examining Ukrainian and international experience in irrigation management reforms and assessing the likely risks that may arise in this way and forming a vision for managing the implementation of the Irrigation and Drainage Strategy until 2030. The study was performed using the following methods: systematic analysis of the functioning of the irrigation sector in Ukraine; comparison (determination of properties and characteristics based on collected information and statistical data on reform processes in the field of land reclamation in Ukraine and the world), abstract − logical (theoretical generalisations and formulations of categories and conclusions. The existing reform processes in the field of land reclamation in Ukraine are analysed, it is noted that in a market economy, effective maintenance and development of water reclamation complex can take place only in partnership with the state and the private sector. As a result of research of Ukrainian and international experience, the principles and mechanisms of effective implementation of transformations in irrigation management are proposed and consider socio-economic and cultural aspects of reform processes in Ukraine and possible risks arising from international experience. Specific recommendations for managing the reform process are provided. The application of the proposed methods of reform will ensure investment in the modernisation and rehabilitation of water infrastructure and further sustainable use of irrigated land