The lack of a functional irrigation system has negative consequences not only on the productivity of the agrarian and food sector, the development of a competitive agriculture, but practically excludes the prospect of attracting investments in technologies, modern plantations, the development of rural spaces and others.
As a consequence of increasingly frequent and severe droughts throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova, the approach for irrigation development is an imminent one.
Starting from these and other desired ones, at the initiative of the former independent deputy Alexandru Oleinic, on June 9, 2020, the Parliament established the special Commission for the elaboration of the “National Strategy for the Development of the Irrigation Sector”, which in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, of Regional Development and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the Public Property Agency, the Moldavian Water Agency, the Moldova Sustainable Development Fund, the Consolidated Unit for the Implementation of IFAD Programs, the Consolidated Unit for the Implementation and Monitoring of Projects in the field of Agriculture, as well as other structures and institutions have developed an extensive strategy, which would allow the Republic of Moldova to overcome the deplorable state of the irrigation sector.
Alexandru Oleinic, the president of the Commission of the resort, defined this ambitious document – “National Strategy for the Development of the Irrigation Sector 2030” – as a public policy document, which aimed to plan the policy of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, for a period of 10 years – in the field of irrigation sector development.
THE WORK ON THIS STRATEGY LASTED A YEAR
The work on this strategy lasted a year, and on April 28, 2021, the members of the commission together with the team of experts submitted it to debates and adopted it, finally proposing it to public consultations.
The working group identified the options for the development of such an important technological sector as irrigation. Accordingly, the following priorities were established:
- Reducing the risks faced by agriculture, those related to the permanent drought, in order to reach a profitable, high-quality, performing agriculture, keeping its title as the main field of the national economy in Moldova;
- The development of modern, highly efficient irrigation technologies, which would guarantee an agriculture with a high added value and keep intact the quality of the fertile soil, the only deposit of Moldova;
- The imposition of a guaranteed and attractive legislative framework for domestic and international investors willing to make the necessary investments to implement the projects highlighted in this Strategy.
Although, it was believed that this Strategy will be implemented in a short time, and Moldovan agriculture will have reasons to prosper, with the change of power in Chisinau, the interests or even the visions on the development of this sector have also changed. Why we need such a Strategy was explained very clearly in the document. It’s implementation is rather slow, the reason can’t be explained by the authorities, who get confused in statements or vociferate less credible reasons, in the context in which the implementation of the Strategy is one of vital importance for the agro-industrial sector.
Among the arguments of the authorities is the lack of financial sources, on the other hand, the members of the working group tend to believe that it is, in particular, the lack of political will.
The former Minister of Agriculture, Viorel Gherciu, was one of the members of the group of experts who, although he was hesitant before reaching this chair for the implementation of this strategy, once he reached the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, he slowed down in order to adopt this document. Asked several times when the “National Irrigation Sector Development Strategy 2030” will be implemented, the official mentioned that “when the Parliament decides”.
The current Minister of Agriculture, Vladimir Bolea, then president of the Parliamentary Commission for Agriculture and Food Industry, was one of the active members of the special commission and voted for the adoption and promotion of the Strategy, thus supporting both the collective point of view and the impact of such policies on the agricultural sector.
Arriving in the chair of Minister of Agriculture, Bolea changed his approach to the implementation of the strategy in the way it was conceived. More recently, the official declared that “the implementation of the Strategy for the development of the irrigation sector would cost over two billion euros, money that is not easy to identify now in the context of the big problems that the country is facing and that were not initially included in the agendas governance”. Thus, the minister suggested that the Strategy that his lordship worked on will be only a chapter of another document, namely “Strategy for the development of the agri-food sector”.
“However, given the fact that agriculture is inconceivable without a well-thought-out and well-managed irrigation, certain components of the Strategy will be found in the Strategy for the development of the agri-food sector, in the hope that its implementation will eventually have the desired impact. And because the investments they will be asked to be supported by the state, and these will come from the private sector, the budget support will be oriented towards subsidizing Water User Associations”, said Bolea.
THE APPROACH VOICED BY THE AUTHORITIES IS USELESS AND UNARGUED
On the other hand, the president of the special Commission for the elaboration of the “National Strategy for the Development of the Irrigation Sector”, Alexandru Oleinic, claims that the approach voiced by the authorities, who claim “there is no money for the implementation of this strategy”, is useless and unargued. Thus, Oleinic explains why the authorities’ logic regarding financial sources does not correspond to reality.
“For the maintenance of the existing infrastructure of irrigation systems, such as: lakes, pumping stations, preservation and exploitation of irrigation resources, approximately 100 million euros are spent annually, but which, in fact, should be directed towards the modernization sector. I want to emphasize that for the implementation of the Strategy, the objectives stipulated in it, which are ambitious, but achievable and extremely important for the country, investments of more than 2.27 billion euros are needed (!). If we add that amount to 250 thousand hectares of agricultural land to be set up for irrigation, then the investments amount to over 9000 euros per hectare,” mentions Alexandru Oleinic.
At the same time, the president of the special commission for the development of the “National Strategy for the Development of the Irrigation Sector”, Alexandru Oleinic, says that the state should ensure an optimal legislative framework. What would allow the development partners, who have already expressed their interest in this ambitious project, to come with logistical and financial support in order to implement the projects included in the document.
“The strategy provides that, in addition to state investments, funds will be attracted from development partners, donors, other international projects, as well as the contribution of economic agents, businesses from the agri-food sector, which will be the final beneficiaries of the implementation of irrigation projects. Even farmers will be interested in identifying sources for the implementation of this strategy, as they understand its vital importance for the Moldovan agro-industrial sector”, says Oleinic.
The former independent deputy points out that any investment made and realized today, tomorrow will bring a 100% value: “299 million invested for one year, will bring 100% added value to agricultural production”.
AGAIN, WE ’’STEPPED THROUGH THE BOWLS’’, SINCE THE PROJECT IS AMONG THE DOCUMENTS DECLARED NULL
Unfortunately, however, Alexandru Oleinic notes that, once again, we have “stepped through the bowls”, since the project is among the documents declared null.
The document recognized the need for a new, completely different approach to the irrigation sector and also the possibility of increasing the irrigated areas from the current 50 thousand hectares to 300 thousand irrigated hectares in 2030, simultaneously with the diversification and production of crops strategic with added value, requested by consumers on the local and international market.
“The strategy was, I found this after seeing it among the documents declared void, an ambitious project for the realization of which total investments of 2.27 billion euros were needed in 10 years, but afterwards, the gross profit that was to be obtained the agricultural sector, as a result of the implementation of the Strategy, was estimated at 1.17 billion euros annually, and the number of new jobs increasing by over 230 thousand. Of course, some skeptics can say “strategy again” and so on. But precisely the adoption of such a law will allow the creation of the legislative basis for the development of the irrigation sector, in particular, and of a competitive, sustainable agriculture, as a whole, adapted to climate changes and other issues”, said Alexandru Oleinic.
As a result, according to the former deputy, “the adoption of such a document in the end will allow obtaining direct and indirect economic and social benefits: potential for attracting investments in the modernization of agriculture, technological transfer, the increase in the areas of crops with increased added value, to develop and implement modern post-harvest infrastructure, etc. In the end, this will allow us to make agriculture the most important field for the country, as well as for the development of rural localities”.
So, according to the members of the expert group, which included deputy Vasite soray Viorel Cucenic, Utics Oleg, Overcenco Auraliu Cazmall Hicolai, they concluded that in the case of utsty, it remains vulnerable to climate change, not adapted to drought conditions, they will not be used rationally and efficiently, the centralized irrigation systems, managed by tvor, work partially, reassuring the producers with quality water for their irrigation, corresponding to Moru or the expected results:
- Increasing the volume and quality of high value products/competitive products
- Diversification of sales/demand markets and stable prices
- Creation of new jobs/qualified personnel and a training system in the field
- Increase of the incomes of the population in rural areas
- Increase of the contribution of the agricultural sector to GDP
- Creation of development opportunities for the adjacent sectors post-harvest infrastructure, transport, tourism
- Efficient management of water resources and the irrigation fund, prevention and mitigation of natural and anthropogenic risks.
The National Strategy for the Irrigation Sector Development in 2021-2030 by Dosar Media on Scribd
The National Strategy for the Development of the Irrigation Sector
deserves urgent attention in order to develop agriculture-a field of certain value, generator of prosperity, of jobs that constantly guarantees a safe perspective for the villages of our country.
