Four irrigation systems on the Nistru River, which were included in the Compact Program financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will be rehabilitated during 20 months, between next spring and the summer of 2015. The investments amount to US$35 million, IPN reports.

Executive director of the Millennium Challenge Fund Moldova Valentina Badrajan told a news conferee held to sign the rehabilitation contracts that the works will be performed by three international companies.

In Jora de Jos, Orhei, the works will be executed by the French company SADE during 18 months. The consortium of Romanian companies Hidroconstructia and Iamsat Muntenia will rehabilitate the irrigation systems in Cosnita, Dubasari, and in Puhaceni and Roscani of Anenii Noi within 20 months. Simultaneously, repair works will be carried out at 12 pumping stations forming part of the four systems.

The irrigation system in Cosnita is the most expensive one as is covers about 2,500 hectares.

Jeffrey Goveya, deputy director of the MCC representative office in Moldova, said the works to rehabilitate the irrigation systems will enable to extend the irrigated areas by up to 20% of the total irrigation systems of the country.

Hidroconstructia manager general Emil Timofti said the systems that will be renovated by the Romanian consortium will help irrigate 4,100 heaters of farmland.

Of the 6,000 agricultural producers that work in the area of the four irrigation systems, over 4,700 are members of the Associations of Users of Water for Irrigation.

The head of the Roscani Association of Users of Water for Irrigation Alexandru Cozlov said the renovation of the system will enable to reduce the price from 3.9 lei to 2.9 lei per cubic meter of water.

The four irrigation systems were built in 1960-1980 and haven’t been repaired since then.