The damage that the agro-industrial complex of Crimea suffered as a result of the water blockade of the peninsula by Ukraine, according to preliminary estimates, exceeded 200 billion rubles. This was reported on Sunday by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Crimea.
"The total damage caused to the agriculture of Crimea as a result of the interruption of water supply through the North Crimean Canal, according to preliminary estimates, is 201.3 billion rubles," the ministry said.
The representative of the ministry recalled that the peninsula belongs to the zone of risky farming. Own fresh water resources in Crimea are very small, and because of the arid climate, crops need artificial irrigation. The water use plan for 2014 provided for the supply of 685.4 million cubic meters. m of water, including from the North Crimean Canal, which provided irrigation on an area of 141.4 thousand hectares.
The blocking of the channel significantly affected the yield, the volume of agricultural production and the profitability of the industry's enterprises. "Due to the cessation of guaranteed irrigation, moisture-dependent crops - corn, rice, soybeans - are almost completely excluded from the crop rotation. The production of open-ground vegetables has been significantly reduced," the ministry said.
In addition, the fishing industry and animal husbandry suffered significant losses. Another consequence of the water blockade in the ministry was the reduction in the production of fodder crops, resulting in a decrease in the number of farm animals.