Armenia - PIM

Participatory Irrigation Management in Armenia

Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991 and subsequently fought a war with Azerbaijan over land occupied by Armenian speaking people. Since then, she has been struggling to adapt to an economic and political situation very different than that faced during Soviet times.

Irrigation is very important for Armenian agriculture because the major agricultural areas receive an annual average of 200 mm of rainfall. Present crops include wheat, grapes (for wine and brandy), barley, fruits, and a variety of vegetables and other crops. 

During the Soviet period, complex irrigation systems were developed to serve large areas organized into collective farms. The systems were operated and maintained by the state. At the systems highest development, about 273,000 hectares were under irrigation. This included about 195 state managed irrigation systems of which 8 were large systems serving over 10,000 hectares each.

Operation and maintenance of these complex systems has suffered greatly during the economic collapse following independence and the war. Today, only about 170,000 hectares are irrigated. In 1996, an experimental effort was begun to create farmer organizations to take over management of tertiary canals.

In early 1998, the government adopted the idea wholesale and ordered farmers to create a large number of village level farmer organizations to manage tertiary canals in state systems. Today, there are about 450 farmer organizations; about 150 of these have had some assistance. Two ``unions" of farmer organizations are also being created.

A recent study found that some farmer organizations function well, but most are beset with a variety of problems, many caused by the present overall system of irrigation management, others caused by weak organizations and poor support.

The government of Armenia appears determined to make participatory irrigation management work. The government is presently formulating the program for transfer of irrigation management at several levels. World Bank and IFAD projects will help support the farmer organizations.

For more information contact:

Jeffrey D. Brewer
Fax: 1-703-319-3106
jeffreydbrewer@yahoo.com