Since the beginning of the year, thanks to the work of pyrotechnic units of government agencies and non-governmental operators, Ukrainian farmers have returned to use more than 200 thousand hectares of agricultural land planned for priority inspection and demining.
As Ukrinform reports, this was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy.
“Our pyrotechnicians – units of the State Emergency Service, GOST, and non-governmental mine action operators are demonstrating very good results. Even now in winter, when the weather, to put it mildly, is not conducive to working in the fields, from 3 to 5 thousand hectares of agricultural land are inspected weekly. To date, out of 470 thousand hectares of land that we planned to survey, if necessary, clear and demining first, more than 200 thousand hectares have already been returned to farmers for economic exploitation,” noted First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko
She emphasized that the Government and international partners, in turn, are working hard to strengthen the capabilities of operators and strategic planning for the work of all parties involved in the field of mine action for the next 10 years. According to her, the ultimate goal is to return to safe use up to 80% of the country's areas that are now considered potentially contaminated.
According to the OVA, as of December 15, since the beginning of the year, 268.6 thousand hectares of agricultural land had been surveyed out of about 470 thousand hectares planned for priority survey and demining. Of these, about 205 thousand hectares have been returned to use. Over the past week, more than 5 thousand hectares were surveyed. The largest number – 3.8 thousand hectares – is in the Kherson region.
As reported, the Ministry of Economy is working on the creation and launch of a highly competitive market for mine clearance services; The innovative approach being developed is to invite partners to take under the patronage of certain areas or sectors of work.
