28 серпня 2024 р. 11:58

Farmers in Mykolaiv region receive funds to modernize irrigation systems

(PHOTO: Mykolaiv OVA)

In Mykolaiv region, farmers received more than thirty million hryvnias to restore irrigation systems. The state, in turn, partially reimburses the cost of the equipment.

This was reported by Olena Piskun, Director of the Department of Agricultural Development of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration.

According to the director, the organization of water users in the region received UAH 32.6 million in grants to modernize irrigation systems. The organization will partially finance UAH 9.7 million at its own expense.

The USAID AGRO Program plans to continue providing funding for the development of the agricultural sector in Mykolaiv Oblast. This will help restore the region's irrigation systems.

Olena Piskun noted that this year Mykolaiv Oblast experienced very high temperatures, so modernization of the systems is necessary with an eye to climate change.

In addition, there is government support for the development of irrigation. Those farmers who have restored or built reclamation systems are reimbursed 50% of the cost of the equipment, but not more than UAH 26 thousand per hectare. To do this, a preliminary project must be developed.

Also, farmers in the region continue to increase production and paid one billion hryvnias in taxes to the budget in the first half of the year. Exports of agricultural products remained at the level of the previous year, amounting to half a billion US dollars and were exported to 33 countries.

In 2024, farmers in Mykolaiv region harvested 180 thousand tons of early grains less than last year. Compared to the previous year, the yield decreased from 38 to 35 centners per hectare, which led to a decrease in harvest by 180 thousand tons.

In June, the region launched a program to reimburse domestic machinery. The reimbursement is made in the amount of 25 percent of the total price through public funds. Currently, there are more than 6,000 items of agricultural machinery.

This year, the region expects 113 grain storage modules with a total capacity of 48.3 thousand tons. The mobile grain storage facilities will be provided by FAO to help protect the harvest from Russian attacks.

In addition, 29 farms in Voznesensk district will receive mobile granaries. They were purchased as part of a volunteer project supported by the governments of Canada and Japan, as well as the Australian charity Minderoo Foundation.

In April, the Fund for Partial Guaranteeing of Loans in Agriculture was launched in Mykolaiv region. From now on, farmers will be able to get a loan of up to UAH 30 million. To access the guarantees, a farmer must be registered in the State Agrarian Register.

According to the lending requirements, a farmer must cultivate up to 500 hectares of land. Borrowers will be able to receive investment loans for up to 7 years, loans for the purchase of land for up to 10 years, and working capital for up to 3 years.

The maximum loan amount per borrower is UAH 30 million.