Due to the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, Ukrainians will be deprived of Kherson watermelons, – media

As a result of the Russian invaders blowing up the dam of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station, Ukrainians will be deprived of their favorite watermelon and tomatoes from the Kherson region. This was announced by experts interviewed by OBOZREVATEL on Sunday, June 11th.

The consequences of the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station for vegetable crops

Most of the steppes of the Kherson region, for the cultivation of oilseeds, cereals, melons and vegetables, have lost their irrigation systems. As a result of the explosion of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power plant, the irrigation systems of the right and especially the left bank of the Kherson region were destroyed and therefore the irrigated lands of the region were left without water.

“Desertification of the region will be observed. Approximately we see this in the Oleshki region – the emergence of man-made deserts. Agriculture in the form before the explosion of the hydroelectric power station will be impossible. The head of the public organization “Green Leaf” Vladislav Balinsky, “It will take years and a lot of money to restore the irrigation system” says.

In contrast, the head of the Ukrainian Peasants’ Union, Ivan Tomich, stated that before, the Kherson region was the leader of Ukraine in the use of well-functioning irrigation systems, since both canals and drip systems are used to grow different crops. drew water from the collapsed reservoir.

Will Ukrainians see Kherson watermelons this year?

Agricultural market specialist, head of BO “Borsch” Vitaliy Ivankov told the publication that the current crop of the famous Kherson watermelons in the flooded areas is almost completely washed out.

“It’s more about the occupied part of the left bank. There will be harvesting in areas further away from the water, but we will not see it like last year. Because the invaders do not release goods into the peaceful Ukrainian lands. Something will remain on the right bank, but in any case the watermelon harvest will be significantly reduced,” said Ivankov.

According to the publication, farmers in the Kherson region, as well as in the Mykolaiv and Odessa regions, have increased the cultivation of watermelons, so Ukrainians will not be deprived of their favorite summer crop. Local farmers promised that the prices will not be as high as last year (for example, the price of watermelons in Kherson was about 3-4 UAH per kg, and in Kiev already 30-40 UAH)

What will happen to the Kherson tomatoes?

According to Tomic, the flooding has negatively impacted irrigation systems and will take years to recover. Many vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, eggplants and sweet peppers that were previously grown in the region will not be available. However, the expert notes that since last year, after the Russian occupation of Kherson and part of the Zaporozhye region, Ukrainians have adjusted to the rising prices of vegetables, so there will not be a sharp increase in the prices of these products.

Recall that in mid-March, the Agricultural and Land Policy Committee of the Verkhovna Rada announced that watermelons will not be planted in the Kherson region in 2023 due to the mined areas.

At the beginning of April, Tolokonnikov, spokesman for the Kherson OVA, said that about 50,000 hectares of mines had been cleared in the region, of which about 2,000 hectares would be set aside for melon crops.