Purpose of research. To analyze the basic tendencies and prospects of the development of construction, reconstruction and restoration of irrigation and drainage systems in Ukraine and to outline the main areas of researches and achievements of Reclamation Department of the Institute on the issues of reliable and effective functioning of water management and reclamation complex.
Research Method - Analytical, Statistical.
Study results and main findings. The article analyzes the current state of the irrigation and drainage sector in Ukraine in the context of climate change and emphasizes its decisive role in obtaining stable and predictable crop yiels, increasing land productivity and further developing agricultural production. The history of development and the nascent stages of the scientific departments of the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Land Reclamation (now the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) dealt with the issues of water management construction, operation, maintenance, repair and restoration of the engineering infrastructure of irrigation and drainage systems, sprinkling equipment, hydraulic structures and equipment were considered. The results of multi-year researches, main areas of scientific activity, developments and achievements of the specialists of the departments of irrigation and drainages, operation of water management and drainage systems, drainage and irrigation reclamation of the Institute on the issues of reliable and efficient functioning of water and land reclamation complex were systematized. Technical and technological basis for improving the infrastructure of irrigation and drainage systems were justified and the ways of solving the existing problems were proposed. It was noted that at present, given climate change and management conditions, increasing productivity and sustainability of agriculture requires searching for new scientific, methodological, technical and technological approaches to the restoration and further development of irrigation and drainage.
Prospects. At the same time, reforming the management of the water sector supported by an appropriate legislative framework and the active involvement of water users in management processes is a prerequisite. The necessity of implementing the provisions and measures proposed in the “Irrigation and Drainage Strategy of Ukraine for the Period until 2030”, prepared with the participation of the specialists from IWPLR NAAS, was emphasized, which will contribute to the effective use of irrigation and drainage systems potential to increase the agricultural production in the conditions of climate change.