ArmInfo. The Irrigation System Modernization Project in Armenia is being implemented with loans from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) in Armenia. The Territorial Development Fund of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures reported.
According to the source, within the framework of the project it is planned to build irrigation systems with a total length of 21,633 meters, which will improve the irrigation of 3200.2 hectares of land for 8158 water users in 13 settlements. 544 million 252 thousand drams have been invested in the implementation of the program. The beneficiaries of the project are the communities of Getashen, Berkashat, Lenughi, Khachik, Khanjyan, Lukashin, Mrgashat, Noravan, Norapat, Aygavan, Armavir, Yeghegnut, Arazap of the Armavir region of Armenia, where the agrarian sector is expected to be activated after completion of the work.
To note, the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD) provided Armenia with an investment loan in the amount of $ 40 million to finance the "Modernization of irrigation systems" project. According to the terms of the signed agreement, the share of the co-financing of the RA government will amount to $ 10 million. Thus, the total cost of the project will amount to $ 50 million. The project was prepared through a grant provided by the Europe and Central Asia region Capacity Development Trust Fund (ECAPDEV). The project is part of the third phase of a long-term national program for the rehabilitation and restructuring of the irrigation and drainage network in Armenia. The first projects under this program were implemented by the World Bank and were highly appreciated by the authorities. The modernization of the irrigation systems in Armenia will take place in several directions at once. First, mechanical irrigation, which exists today, will be replaced by gravity irrigation, involving the construction of 8 gravity systems with a total length of more than 70 kilometers. Second, 8 kilometers of main canals and 54 kilometers of inter-farm canals will be restored. Third, the project managers intend to modernize about 278 kilometers of on-farm networks. The implementation of the project will allow to achieve savings in electricity costs, operation and maintenance of networks up to almost USD 2 million annually. According to preliminary estimates, the expected growth in the area of irrigated areas will reach 10 433 hectares, and about 114 thousand people will be the beneficiaries of the project.
