Armenian PM calls for introduction of drip irrigation as soon as possible

YEREVAN, June 29. /ARKA/. Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan called today for replacement of the traditional irrigation with drip one, saying this should be done as soon as possible as he spoke at a meeting on irrigation problems.

Pashinyan’s remarks came after farmers in Armavir and Shirak regions staged spontaneous protests, blocking roads and demanding irrigation water for their drying fields.

According to the authorities, abnormally high temperatures across the country have caused irrigation problems and can cause significant damage to the crops.

According to the press service of the Armenian government, during the meeting, Pashinyan said: “I would like to note that in recent years we have recorded an unprecedented heat, which means that we must accept the fact that this is no longer a phenomenon that occurs once a month or a year, but a global climate change. Therefore, problems with irrigation water will be long lasting, and this creates new challenges for us. "

He pointed to the need to discuss urgent steps to identify the challenges of the current year.

"The changes lead to the conclusion that traditional irrigation as such has no future in our country, that is, our global strategy in the agricultural sector should be the use of new technologies, including drip irrigation," Pashinyan said.

He noted that the authorities will stimulate the introduction of drip irrigation systems as quickly as possible. According to him, there is also a need to build and restore reservoirs and increase the volume of accumulated water and also start construction of more than a dozen new irrigation water reservoirs.

“But today the main problem is to understand what to do this and next year, since all the issues and problems of the irrigation system cannot be solved in 1-2 years," Pashinyan said. -0-