Irrigation season starts on Don

On April 26, at 10 am, at the HEAD structure of the Donskoy Main Canal (DMK), control panels were raised, and water began to be supplied from the Tsimlyansk reservoir to the main channel of the canal.
“From the beginning of the filling of the Donskoy main canal, the irrigation season in the Rostov region is considered open,” said First Deputy Governor Viktor Goncharov. - From the Tsimlyansk reservoir through the Donskoy main canal, farmers receive water in accordance with the concluded agreements in the Central irrigated zone of the region, which includes the Volgodonsk, Martynovsky, Semikarakorsky, Bagaevsky, Veselovsky and Proletarsky districts. Today, all rice production is concentrated in these areas. Irrigation also helps our region to harvest rapeseed, vegetables, potatoes and other crops.”
According to the plans of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rostovmeliovodkhoz Administration, by May 10 it is planned to supply water to all irrigation systems of the Rostov Region located in the canal operation zone. Water is supplied from the DMK for irrigation of crops in nine districts of the region. In 2022, it is planned to supply water from the DMK to almost 50 thousand hectares of irrigated land, of which about 14.5 thousand hectares are rice crop rotations. After the reconstruction of the DMK is completed, which does not stop even during the irrigation season, more than 140 thousand hectares of crops will be provided with water.
Recall that the Donskoy main canal is the main water artery of the Rostov region, the maximum volume of water intake is 250 cubic meters per second. In addition to irrigation of crops, water from the Donskoy main canal is also used for watering small rivers, desalting reservoirs, household needs and aquaculture.
According to the Don Ministry of Agriculture and Food, today in the Rostov region there are only 237 thousand hectares of irrigated land, including 219 thousand hectares - on state irrigation systems. All objects of federal property, which are in the operational management of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Management" Rostovmeliovodkhoz ", are ready for the reception, distribution and supply of water.
“In the Rostov region, much attention is paid to the restoration of reclamation systems, which make it possible to obtain guaranteed crops regardless of weather conditions,” Viktor Goncharov emphasized. - A number of Don farms, where they have already appreciated the importance of irrigation for sustainable and profitable agricultural production, are reconstructing irrigation systems and purchasing modern irrigation equipment and drip irrigation systems. It should be noted that irrigation with the use of modern technology and irrigation methods can increase the bioproductivity of reclaimed lands by 2.5-3 times.
To implement land reclamation measures, Don agrarians receive state support within the framework of the subprogram "Effective involvement in the circulation of agricultural land and the development of the reclamation complex of the Rostov region." Last year, it amounted to 93 million rubles, nine Don farms took advantage of subsidies, which put into operation more than 1.4 thousand hectares of reclaimed land. In 2022, the amount of subsidies in this area is planned to be increased by more than 25% to 117.4 million rubles.
It is also planned to provide subsidies from the regional budget: to pay for water supply services for irrigation - 45 million rubles; and for the repair and layout of irrigation systems, clearing the collector and drainage network, the purchase and delivery of phosphogypsum, the purchase of herbicides, drip irrigation tape - 27 million rubles.