A new project has been launched in Ukraine with the support of the US government-funded AGRO Agricultural and Rural Development Program. The project will strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of water user organizations and promote the implementation of modern approaches to land reclamation infrastructure management, according to the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
The Ministry of Economy noted that the project is being implemented by the Association of Water User Organizations (AWUO) and is designed to form a long-term partnership between Ukraine and the US in the field of hydraulic reclamation.
“The launch of this project makes it possible to combine state policy, the expertise of the professional community, and the support of international partners to form a sustainable model for managing irrigation infrastructure and expanding farmers’ access to modern technologies,” explained Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Iryna Ovcharenko, whose words are quoted in the report.
It is noted that within the framework of the project, agricultural producers will receive comprehensive consulting support on the creation and operation of water user organizations, management of engineering infrastructure, and ensuring their financial sustainability. A separate area of focus is a professional training program for irrigation managers, aimed at improving the efficiency of land reclamation systems and long-term planning for their development.
In addition, AOWC experts will conduct technical audits of the irrigation networks of 25 agricultural producers and five water user organizations, based on the results of which individual solutions for infrastructure modernization will be developed. It is expected that within the framework of the project, Ukrainian farmers will establish cooperation with American manufacturers of irrigation equipment and suppliers of management and service solutions.
“The development of water user organizations is a key element in the restoration and modernization of irrigation in Ukraine (…) It will also accelerate the restoration of Ukraine’s irrigation infrastructure, as experts estimate that the level of wear and tear reaches about 80%,” Ovcharenko emphasized.
The Ministry of Economy reminded that the development of hydraulic reclamation is of strategic importance for Ukraine’s agro-industrial complex. Since the start of the full-scale war, irrigated areas have decreased from 525,000 hectares in 2021 to 137,000 hectares in 2024. At the same time, the potential for restoring irrigation in Ukraine is at least 1 million hectares.
As of early 2026, 73 water user organizations have been established in 14 regions of Ukraine, including 19 in 2025.
