Project Detail

Climate smart agriculture for sustainable landscapes and livelihoods

Agriculture has been the chief source of income and main occupation for around 2,350 residents of Gargar and Vardablur communities of Lori region. Previously, these two communities used water from the same irrigation network, which was delivered by Debed River. The main irrigation pipeline was made from big size of metallic pipes and is currently not used.
This resulted in very serious socio-economic consequences, as most of the community arable lands remained uncultivated: around 240 ha in Gargar and Vardablur communities.

The main goal of the project is to introduce climate-smart agro ecological practices in Gargar and Vardablur communities to promote forest ecosystems, increase productivity and strengthen farmers' resilience. The project will promote sustainable use of land and water resources in the project communities, rational use of waters for irrigation as well as building a pump station equipped with an on-grid PV modules and rehabilitation of the existing irrigation system.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

''Limen-Spitak Barorutyun'' social, health, cultural NGO

Country:

Armenia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP6 -Y4 (Jul 18 - Jun 19)

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 14,950.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 5,700.00

Project Number:

ARM/SGP/OP6/Y4/STAR/BD/19/18

Start Date:

4/2019

End Date:

6/2021

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

In order to promote public awareness, leaflets on project activities and results will be distributed among population and decision-makers, as well as articles on the project achievements, in particular socio-economic effects of the climate-smart technological solution, promotion of forest ecosystems and farming approaches, will be published in and highlights through the regional media.

Replication of project activities

Innovative approaches of the project will ensure the improvement of livelihood of the local population and can be replicated in other communities with identical problems, such as high energy cost for irrigation.

Capacity - Building Component

It is planned to implement special trainings to enhance capacities of the grantee and community members on soil and water (including hydro-technical systems) management as well as sustainable climate-resilient farming to ensure production of chemicals-free vegetables and crops in backyard plots.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

N/A

Linkages gef projects

N/A

Planning gef grant

N/A

Planning non gef grant

N/A

Project sustainability

Rehabilitation of previously 240 ha of uncultivated community lands will ensure a sustainable income for the community population. Irrigation water will be supplied at 4-5 times lower tariff than was previously set. It is estimated that through cultivation of high-value crops the communities will have additional annual income of about 1,800 USD per hectare. A quick payback of investment and substantive electricity saving of water pumping for irrigation will ensure sustainability of the GEF investment.

Gender Focus

The project direct beneficiaries are all members of the project communities. However, it should be taken into consideration that the project positively influences the economic well-being of households, where major responsibility is carried by women. In both communities, a large number of households are led by women and single mothers, as the percentage of men work migration is high and agricultural work is chiefly handled by women.

Policy Influence

The project is in line with ?2010-2020 Sustainable Strategy Program for Agricultural and Rural Development? and ?National Action Plan to Combat Desertification? Policy Papers adopted by the Government of Armenia, according to which improvement of pastureland and grasslands management are recognized as a priority for sustainable agricultural development and mitigation of land degradation and combating desertification in Armenia.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project will create enabling conditions for sustainable income-generation through introduction of innovative and climate-smart agricultural practices in Gargar and Vardablur communities. In particular, it is planned to build PV-powered pump stations, introduce a low-cost technical solution for construction of water storage (regulating) reservoirs. The water from the river will be gathered and stored in the reservoirs and then directed to the community farmlands and household needs. It is expected that introduction of the new energy-efficient irrigation method, combined with the climate-resilient farming practices (climate-resistant high-value crops, etc.) will considerably improve well-being of the local population and increase the household income.

Policy Impact

The proposed project contributes to the objectives of the GEF SGP OP6 Country Programme Strategy by addressing the SGP?s Climate Smart Innovative Agroecology strategic initiative. It is expected that the project will create enabling conditions for local farmers to get sustainable incomes from irrigation and cultivation of about 240 ha of formally idle or rain-fed farmlands.

Notable Community Participation

To address the issue of the population migration, the project will strive to engage the community youth, especially unemployed, in the project implementation process to create enabling conditions and incentives for sustainable farming practices. Simultaneously, it is planned to raise public awareness on global environmental issues through practical trainings and information sharing, with a special attention to reduce indifference among youth and schoolchildren and to ensure a younger generation caring for natural resources and sustainable use practices.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Within the framework of the project, members of Gargar and Vardablur communities and other relevant stakeholders will have improved capacities in promotion of forest ecosystems, sustainable management of natural resources and innovative agricultural practices. A quick return of investment of the solar-powered irrigation will be objectively analyzed in the project knowledge materials to prove attractiveness of green energy financing in agriculture by government, financing institutions and individual farmers.

Project Results

The project will produce the following results:
? Construction of 1300 meters of irrigation system in Gargar and 1700 meters in Vardablur contributes to rehabilitation of 240 hectares of degraded land and return for cultivation
? Water collected from river is directed to the reconstructed irrigation network and provides water to 200 community households
? The well station equipped with a PV-powered pump makes drinking and irrigation water accessible for population at a low price
? Around 240 ha of backyards area in Gargar and Vardablur are irrigated, giving the opportunity to cultivate high-value crops
? About 40 teachers and 100 pupils of Gargar and Vardablur communities? schools raised awareness on global environmental issues.
? A manual on sustainable horticulture practices is published.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project 35

Empowerment

Innovative financial mechanisms put in place through SGP project 1

Biophysical

Hectares of land sustainably managed by project 240

Livehood

Total monetary value (US dollars) of ecosystem goods sustainably produced and providing benefit to project participants and/or community as a whole (in the biodiversity, international waters, and land degradation focal areas as appropriate) 360000

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