BergerWorld: 4th Quarter 2005

Recent privatization efforts in Armenia have created over 320,000 new farms, each averaging around a hectare in size. These small farmers work to maximize productivity by planting a variety of crops with different water needs, creating an irrigation challenge. Most farmers also rely on poorly maintained earthen channels with high rates of seepage, causing farmers to lose much of the water before it reaches the field. Through a World Bank-funded program, Armenia's Irrigation Rehabilitation Unit selected the Berger Group and Haygyoughshinnakhagits Ltd. to prepare preliminary and final designs for a new gravity irrigation system in the Vayots Dzor area, a productive farming area comprising 4,593 farms and including three towns and 46 villages.

The Team conducted a water availability and balance analysis along the Elegis River to ensure that the irrigation system could draw sufficient water without reducing the amount available for sewage, potable water and environmental needs. The Team then undertook detailed field surveys and prepared final designs for the construction of 30 kilometers of gravity pipes and canal irrigation for 4,700 hectares.