Armenian Association of water consumers collects AMD 3.2bln in 2006 for irrigation systems exploitation
02.08.2007,
03:17
Armenian Water Users Association has collected AMD 3.2bln for irrigation systems exploitation, Arus Alaverdyan, responsible officer on World Bank’s Irrigation Development Project for Armenia, said on Wednesday.
YEREVAN, August 1. /ARKA/. Armenian Water Users Association has collected AMD 3.2bln for irrigation systems exploitation, Arus Alaverdyan, responsible officer on World Bank’s Irrigation Development Project for Armenia, said on Wednesday.
She said the amount collected by the association last year was greater by 900mln, compared with that collected in 2003.
“Not all problems are solved, but international experience shows that 10 to 15 year are needed for institutional reforms implementation. It is important to change farmers’ mentality, which must understand that they have to pay for consuming water”, Alaverdyan said.
She said that a pilot water users association creation program launched in mid-90s was successful.
“Twelve associations were established at the beginning of the program implementation while now we have 52 organizations all over the country who exploit 128.6thnd hectares”, she said and added that the association made it possible to save 51mln kilowatt/hour electric power a year.
Aharon Ghazaryan, director of WB irrigation development programs, in his turn, said that the budget of irrigation facilities exploitation totals AMD 9mln, of which AMD 5mln is given by Armenian government.
“Four-billion collection is normal, but we should turn to self-financing without support from the government. It may become possible later, when farms become stronger”, he said. ($1 = AMD 337.18) M.V. --0--
She said the amount collected by the association last year was greater by 900mln, compared with that collected in 2003.
“Not all problems are solved, but international experience shows that 10 to 15 year are needed for institutional reforms implementation. It is important to change farmers’ mentality, which must understand that they have to pay for consuming water”, Alaverdyan said.
She said that a pilot water users association creation program launched in mid-90s was successful.
“Twelve associations were established at the beginning of the program implementation while now we have 52 organizations all over the country who exploit 128.6thnd hectares”, she said and added that the association made it possible to save 51mln kilowatt/hour electric power a year.
Aharon Ghazaryan, director of WB irrigation development programs, in his turn, said that the budget of irrigation facilities exploitation totals AMD 9mln, of which AMD 5mln is given by Armenian government.
“Four-billion collection is normal, but we should turn to self-financing without support from the government. It may become possible later, when farms become stronger”, he said. ($1 = AMD 337.18) M.V. --0--
