ArmInfo. The current irrigation system in Armenia is a system of losses of water resources, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on August 24 at a parliamentary meeting, during the presentation of the government's program for 2021-2026.
Thus, according to Pashinyan, the culture of irrigation of agricultural lands is at the level of the 19th century, and it is not able to ensure the development of the field and a high level of labor productivity. Pashinyan noted that those farms that completely switch to drip irrigation will receive 100% compensation from the government for irrigation fees over the next 5 years. The head of government believes that there are very deep problems not only in the field of irrigation, but also in the entire management of water resources. According to him, in the coming years, it is necessary to more carefully treat the country's water resources. This, as the prime minister explained, does not mean that water consumption for personal needs is below the required level. It is about avoiding losses, he said. Thus, Pashinyan assures that, on average, the scale of losses of water resources allocated for irrigation purposes is 60%. That is, out of 100 liters of water injected into the system, 60% are "lost", and no one can understand where this water has flowed, he noted. The head of government pointed out yet another "headache" for the system, the so-called excess agricultural land.
They require, as a rule, twice, and in some places even three times more water, compared to other areas.
