The Role of Irrigated Agriculture in Solving the Problems of Food Supply for the Country’s Population

The article describes the branch of irrigated agriculture as an important factor in the intensification of agricultural production in areas with unfavorable climatic conditions. The study of fundamental developments, socio-economic and political factors, and the implemented state policy has allowed us to identify three main stages, for each of which the basic prerequisites and contribution to the development of irrigation have been identified. The first stage is characterized by the accumulation of necessary information for further planning of irrigation development. At the second stage, a powerful structure of the land reclamation complex was created, despite the mistakes made, its operation significantly increased the potential of agricultural production. Since the 90s, irrigated agriculture has gone from almost complete destruction to its transition to the status of the most significant factor in ensuring the country’s food security. As a result of comparing statistical data reflecting the state of the industry and the level of provision of basic foodstuffs to the country’s population in different periods, conclusions were drawn about the importance of sustainable agriculture by restoring the potential of irrigation agriculture, taking into account the identified problems. The legal, organizational and economic foundations of state regulation of irrigated agriculture are investigated. The leading role of the state is confirmed by a number of conclusions: firstly, significant financial investments are needed for the development of land reclamation; secondly, control over negative transformations and processes arising under the influence of changing hydrological conditions, waterphysical properties of soils is required; thirdly, all decisions on increasing and using the potential of irrigated agriculture should be scientifically based. the rationale. The use of the step-by-step research approach proposed in the article on the development of the irrigated agriculture industry with the definition of basic prerequisites, conditions and identified problems can become the basis for further work on topical issues of the restoration of the country’s land reclamation complex.