Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Crimean growers may become hostages of political situation in Ukraine
Fruit and vegetable growers in Crimea and Kherson Region of Ukraine are seriously concerned about water supply for irrigation in the Crimean peninsula through North Crimean Canal. The authorities in charge of the agricultural sector water supply in those regions say about earlier start of necessary procedures; however, irrigation is still a pending issue for Crimean growers.
The State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine said that the North Crimean Canal had started its operations on March 19 this year according to service instructions and taking into account meteorological conditions. The statement was published on the Agency's official web-site and included the information about 10 days earlier start of water supply through the Canal.
Meanwhile, Crimeans say that the Canal is very slowly filled with water, therefore the local irrigation season may be indefinitely postponed.
“For the present, Crimea receives 6.3 cubic meters of water per second instead of 70 cubic meters per second. This does not enable both to start irrigation and replenish the system. All our negotiations broke down due to political issues; therefore, that will be a separate topic to discuss”, Mr. Igor Vayl, Chairman of the Republican Committee of Water Engineering and Irrigated Farming of the Republic of Crimea, said on April 11. He believed that the situation was connected with Ukrainian authorities' sabotage of water supply through the North Crimean Canal.
At the same time, the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine said that Ukrainian authorities had created no obstacles to water supply. In contrast, it was self-appointed leaders of Crimea who had failed to conclude the contract of water supply services.
The Agency stated: “As of April 11, 2014, despite North Crimean Canal management's official appeal to finalize contractual obligations of Crimea water supply, we have received no relevant documentation, and approval meetings were ignored by Crimean representatives.”
Fruit-Inform interviewed Mr. Yuriy Odarchenko, Governor of Kherson Region of Ukraine, and he also said that it was new Crimean authorities that had refused to conclude necessary agreements with the Agency. Furthermore, according to him, Crimea's last year water supply payment debts totaled UAH 1.70 mln (about 93,500 euro).
“Kherson Region has made an agreement and carried out all necessary procedures, but failed to conclude the contract with self-appointed authorities of Crimea”, Mr. Odarchenko commented. “They simply refuse to conduct negotiations that is a demonstration of their irresponsibility. Moreover, the Canal in the peninsula is now being seized by unidentified persons”.
According to him, now only Kalanchak District faces some problems with water supply in Kherson Region, and authorities plan to settle them in a week. Meanwhile, water supply to Crimea is still a pending issue.
“We have to make everything clear: people that proclaimed themselves Crimean authorities are in charge of the issue”, Mr. Odarchenko said. “The best solution of the problem is to harmonize relations between authorities and leave the issue outside political sphere”.
Fruit-Inform analysts warn that the current situation may negatively affect fruit orchards in Crimea. According to Crimean fruit growers, irrigation of young plantings was started by those farms that had contracts with a reservoir. Growers plan to start irrigation of “older” orchards closer to the end of April, of course, if water is successfully supplied. In their turn, planting of middle-season and late vegetables in Crimea is also at risk of failure.