Water that flows through one irrigation channel cannot be paid at two prices with a 6-fold difference – Agro Plovdiv – 2024-08-07 13:00:29

The Director of Irrigation Systems has promised to consider the idea of ​​lower prices for irrigation water that is used in a way that realizes savings

Recently, in Plovdiv, farmers from the district met with people who manage the movement of the precious water.

On the initiative of the deputy Mladen Shishkov, the director of “irrigation systemsEAD Snezhina Dineva, the director of the Plovdiv branch “Maritsa” Kostadin Cholakov, the director of the Basin Directorate “Eastern White Sea Region” Vasil Uzunov, experts and farmers.

Drought, water and its price – these were the topics discussedtold Svetoslav Rusalov – grain producer and former chairman of the National Association of Grain Producers (NAG).

The subject of the price of irrigation water is important, because at some point, and God forbid it will be sooner, if the war in Ukraine stops, the state aid for irrigation will also be stopped.

„Currently, rice farmers as large consumers pay for water supplied by “Irrigation Systems” at 2.8 cents per cubic meter. For other users in the area, the price is 16.8 cents. But adding the fee per acre, the actual price becomes 18.5 cents. Water delivered through the same canal, going left, cannot be at one price, and going right at another. No matter how big consumers the rice producers are, this price should be fairer. As long as the state covers 80% of the cost, we can bear this expense. But will we be able to when we stop being helpedSvetoslav Rusalov asked.

Deputy Shishkov has promised that the question of the price of irrigation water will be put before the deputies in a motivated manner.

In order for the grain producers not to be misunderstood, Mr. Rusalov specified that he raises the topic not because he wants the Rice Production sector to pay more expensive irrigation, but because he does not see justice in the fact that the same water costs 6 times more to the users. who do not grow rice.

„We become non-competitive with rice colleagues. They have no problem paying higher annuities in years when we don’t make any profit and reduce the annuity. Example: We lower the rent to 35 BGN, but they pay 100-120 BGN/acre. They have no problem hiring our employees. In such a non-competitive environment, everything gets distorted.

I have no such complaints, because there is only one rice farmer in the village of Trud, but I share the opinion of my colleagues from Saedinenie,” specified the grain producer.

At the meeting, Snezhina Dineva promised that next year she will consider the idea of ​​reducing water by applying water-saving technologies. That is, drip irrigation and sprinkler to be of lower cost.

When asked how long the irrigation water used by the producers in the Plovdiv region will last, Snezhina Dineva’s answer is that “Irrigation Systems” will receive additional amounts of water from the energy dams, so that watering can be guaranteed.

Regarding the request to restore the existing 12-15 pump station at the “Pyasachnik” dam so that it is filled in the winter, the director of “Irrigation Systems” has informed that it is most realistic that the pumps will start working again at the end of 2026. A technical project has already been assigned to a group of academic teachers. It should be evaluated, then a public procurement should be held, and finally it should be implemented.

“Ms. Dineva stated that this is her main goal, for which she will fight to make it happen,” the director of the state-owned company Svetoslav Rusalov was quoted as saying.