Gogaran community of Lori region is a high mountainous community where population is mainly engaged in cereal and potato cultivation and cattle breeding. Cultivation of farmlands has become not viable due to destroyed irrigation system by the devastating earthquake of 1988. Due to the non-operating irrigation network, majority of the community lands has been severely affected by surface runoff and irregular earth-made distribution trenches dug by the farmers to direct the water to their backyards. These earth-made water trenches further destroyed community road infrastructure, making remote pastures and other production landscapes inaccessible. The arable lands are mostly not cultivated and received yield ensures low income for 1,350 community members. As a result, the arable community lands become abandoned or are converted into pastures. Forested areas of Gogaran were also affected by logging following the energy crisis of early 90s, which increased the risks of landslides and intensified wind erosion.
The project objective is to prevent degradation of community lands through efficient use and conservation of water resources, and introduction of climate-smart farming practices. To achieve its objective, the project plans rehabilitating the existing intake facility to collect water from springs and seeps and constructing a gravity-fed irrigation system to direct the water to community farmlands. In parallel, the project will introduce climate-resilient farming practices (climate-resistant high-value crops, etc.) to ensure sustainable production and high incomes. This initiative will directly contribute to the improvement of livelihoods of 237 households in Gogaran through rehabilitation of around 200 hectares of arable land that has been idle for decades.