The caretaker government has prepared a strategy for the modernization of irrigation systems for the period from 2024 to 2028. This is clear from the cabinet's report for last year, BNR reported.
It states the intention to increase the areas with an irrigation system by over 2.5 million decares. For this purpose, at least 400 million leva must be allocated in the 2025 budget.
A comprehensive analysis has been carried out and a strategy has been prepared for the modernization of irrigation systems in the period 2024-2028 with the aim of increasing the irrigated areas by over 2.5 million decares, with the goal being to reach 8 million in the long term. deka, the office reports as completed in the "Agriculture" sector.
To date, 10 sites have been rehabilitated, which ensures 50% water savings and an increase in irrigated areas by over 38,000 deka. The design of 41 hydro-ameliorative facilities for irrigation of agricultural crops has also been assigned.
According to the management of the state-owned company "Irrigation Systems", a large part of its facilities have not been repaired in the last 60 years, which leads to many accidents and water loss. In order to achieve a serious expansion of irrigated areas in Bulgaria, however, financial resources are needed, and two months ago the Minister of Agriculture announced that he had requested from the Ministry of Finance to provide 1.2 billion leva to be invested in the development of irrigation. The first part of this money - 400 million, was supposed to be included in the draft budget for this year in the version presented before the New Year, but there were no such funds, which put the topic of upcoming protests back on the farmers' agenda.