Some 200,000 Armenian farms to have free irrigation water
15.04.2011,
17:56
Self-flowing irrigation water will be free for some 200,000 Armenian farms from this spring, Andranik Andreasin, head of the State Water Committee said Thursday during a Cabinet session.
YEREVAN, April 15, /ARKA/. Self-flowing irrigation water will be free for some 200,000 Armenian farms from this spring, Andranik Andreasin, head of the State Water Committee said Thursday during a Cabinet session.
He said the move was prompted by favorable weather conditions. However, agricultural minister Sergo Karapetian questioned the efficiency of this decision saying the bulk of these farms will not be able to enjoy this privilege, because the bulk of the work planned for cleaning self-flowing irrigation canals by the Millennium Challenges Corporation-Armenian was not executed yet and thousands of farms still have no access to gravity flow water. He suggested that irrigation water pumped to the fields by electrical engines be made free as well.
Andranik Andreasian agreed that many canals were not cleaned, but added that officials from Millennium Challenges Corporation-Armenia assured that they will be cleaned soon.
Prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said farmers had been waiting for this decision for years, but added that the government does not have sufficient financial resources to supply irrigation pumped by engines using electricity free too.
‘If we have the chance to deliver irrigation water through gravity conduits to farms free we should do that but we have no finances to deliver water pumped by engines free as well,’ he said.
On March 27, 2006 the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $235.65 million Compact with the Government of Armenia. The Compact is focused on one goal: reduction of rural poverty through a sustainable increase in the economic performance of the agricultural sector. Armenia planned to achieve this goal through a five-year program of strategic investments in rural roads, irrigation infrastructure and technical and financial assistance to improve the supply of water and to support farmers and agribusinesses.-0-
He said the move was prompted by favorable weather conditions. However, agricultural minister Sergo Karapetian questioned the efficiency of this decision saying the bulk of these farms will not be able to enjoy this privilege, because the bulk of the work planned for cleaning self-flowing irrigation canals by the Millennium Challenges Corporation-Armenian was not executed yet and thousands of farms still have no access to gravity flow water. He suggested that irrigation water pumped to the fields by electrical engines be made free as well.
Andranik Andreasian agreed that many canals were not cleaned, but added that officials from Millennium Challenges Corporation-Armenia assured that they will be cleaned soon.
Prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said farmers had been waiting for this decision for years, but added that the government does not have sufficient financial resources to supply irrigation pumped by engines using electricity free too.
‘If we have the chance to deliver irrigation water through gravity conduits to farms free we should do that but we have no finances to deliver water pumped by engines free as well,’ he said.
On March 27, 2006 the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $235.65 million Compact with the Government of Armenia. The Compact is focused on one goal: reduction of rural poverty through a sustainable increase in the economic performance of the agricultural sector. Armenia planned to achieve this goal through a five-year program of strategic investments in rural roads, irrigation infrastructure and technical and financial assistance to improve the supply of water and to support farmers and agribusinesses.-0-
