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ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF WATER CONSUMERS COLLECTS AMD 3.2BLN IN 2006 FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS EXPLOITATION
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 1 2007
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)
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 1 2007
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)