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L. Łab˛ edzki et al.
5.5 Conclusions
(1) Irrigation and drainage systems are in poor condition in Poland. Melioration
equipment and systems on reclaimed agricultural land are usually in poor
technical condition. No detailed melioration equipment is maintained for more
than half of the meliorated area of agricultural land.
(2) Economic status of agriculture and shortage of sufficient funds by farmers,
the associations of the land owners, and local government assemblages for
drainage-irrigation practices in the catchment, are the main reasons for the
negligence of the proper use of the land reclamation systems and facilities, for
the blockage of irrigation/drainage system maintaining and conservation as
well as controlled water management. Decreased interest in the use of hydraulic
structure is observed.
(3) Nowadays the significance of irrigation in agriculture seems to be minor on
account of a very small occupied area (0.5% of the total agricultural land area).
The observed, actual frequency and intensity of droughts, the more intense agricultural production being shaped by the domestic and European merchandize
competition and the need for high quality of the overall agricultural products
will stimulate irrigation development.
(4) Under the current economic conditions of Polish agriculture irrigation is an
unprofitable measure, except irrigation of potatoes, vegetables and orchards.
(5) Limited water supply in some regions constraints agriculture management in
general. Surface and ground water storage may become strongly limited and
environmental conditions require the implementation of water management
strategies for the sustainability of agriculture and food security. Under conditions of increasing competition for water, there is a need for optimum use of
limited water supplies.
(6) For many irrigation projects, water becomes a limiting factor for development.
Proper water management would maximize the water use efficiency.
(7) There is a need for reconstruction and/or modernization of irrigation and
drainage systems to inhibit and control the outflow of water from the systems.
This will contribute to create favourable conditions for water retention,
controlling water discharge, decreasing the outflow of biogenic compounds to
rivers, especially nitrogen compounds from drained areas and effective water
management in agricultural land.
(8) A variety of steps should be taken to stimulate the development of irrigation and
drainage and to adapt the existing systems to extreme meteorological events
resulting from climate change. A number of technological and organizational
actions should be taken to enhance operation, maintenance and management.
(9) The risk of dangerous floods and droughts increases. Current water management systems are not efficient and cannot effectively counteract these
phenomena. Losses caused by floods and droughts are enormous and therefore
not socially and economically acceptable.
L. Łab˛ edzki et al.
5.5 Conclusions
(1) Irrigation and drainage systems are in poor condition in Poland. Melioration
equipment and systems on reclaimed agricultural land are usually in poor
technical condition. No detailed melioration equipment is maintained for more
than half of the meliorated area of agricultural land.
(2) Economic status of agriculture and shortage of sufficient funds by farmers,
the associations of the land owners, and local government assemblages for
drainage-irrigation practices in the catchment, are the main reasons for the
negligence of the proper use of the land reclamation systems and facilities, for
the blockage of irrigation/drainage system maintaining and conservation as
well as controlled water management. Decreased interest in the use of hydraulic
structure is observed.
(3) Nowadays the significance of irrigation in agriculture seems to be minor on
account of a very small occupied area (0.5% of the total agricultural land area).
The observed, actual frequency and intensity of droughts, the more intense agricultural production being shaped by the domestic and European merchandize
competition and the need for high quality of the overall agricultural products
will stimulate irrigation development.
(4) Under the current economic conditions of Polish agriculture irrigation is an
unprofitable measure, except irrigation of potatoes, vegetables and orchards.
(5) Limited water supply in some regions constraints agriculture management in
general. Surface and ground water storage may become strongly limited and
environmental conditions require the implementation of water management
strategies for the sustainability of agriculture and food security. Under conditions of increasing competition for water, there is a need for optimum use of
limited water supplies.
(6) For many irrigation projects, water becomes a limiting factor for development.
Proper water management would maximize the water use efficiency.
(7) There is a need for reconstruction and/or modernization of irrigation and
drainage systems to inhibit and control the outflow of water from the systems.
This will contribute to create favourable conditions for water retention,
controlling water discharge, decreasing the outflow of biogenic compounds to
rivers, especially nitrogen compounds from drained areas and effective water
management in agricultural land.
(8) A variety of steps should be taken to stimulate the development of irrigation and
drainage and to adapt the existing systems to extreme meteorological events
resulting from climate change. A number of technological and organizational
actions should be taken to enhance operation, maintenance and management.
(9) The risk of dangerous floods and droughts increases. Current water management systems are not efficient and cannot effectively counteract these
phenomena. Losses caused by floods and droughts are enormous and therefore
not socially and economically acceptable.