Project Detail

Ensuring food security in Gndevaz settlement through sustainable resource management

The project aims to generate additional source of income in Gndevaz settlement of Jermuk consolidated community for increasing the efficiency and productivity of farming through introducing smart management of natural resources. The population in Gndevaz is mainly engaged in cattle breeding and farming. The overall agricultural lands make up 5677 hectares, of which cropland is 492 hectares, perennial plant land are 141.8 hectares, 180 hectares are arable, 120 hectares are not irrigated. The communal lands are prone to degradation, landslide areas need rehabilitation and smart cultivation.The community has sufficient water resources, that are accumulated in Kechut and Gndevaz reservoirs. However, due to malfunctioning of the system out of 500 l/s of available irrigation water, it is possible to use only 150 l/s.
As a result of a military conflict in 2020 war, Armenia's water resources, as well as land areas were reduced. The situation in Jermuk consolidated community worsened even more after the expansion of the conflict in September 2022, when water sources and grassland areas of the community appeared in the conflict zone.
The project plans to restore the irrigation system to convert abandoned 120 ha to irrigated land, thus improving the livelihoods of 180 community households and preventing migration. In parallel, new irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation, sprinklers, etc., will be introduced, as well as terracing as a restoration of a traditional cultivation culture will be implemented.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Green Armenia Environmental Educational NGO

Country:

Armenia

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP7 Y3 (July 22-June 23)

Grant Amount:

US$ 25,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 86,885.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 9,550.00

Project Number:

ARM/SGP/OP7/Y3/CORE/LD/23/16

Start Date:

8/2023

End Date:

1/2025

Status:

Currently under execution

Project Characteristics and Results

Gender Focus

Considering the specifics of the region and settlement in terms of agriculture, the majority of families has women engaged in agriculture, as men either migrate for work or become contractual military servants. While men partake in farming to some extent, women are engaged in the main cultivation and harvesting. The project envisages to ensure of about 50% involvement of women, who will also participate in trainings and other demo activities.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

It is expected that the availability of irrigation water will improve the livelihood of 180 households in Gndevaz settlement, as each household owns a land plot and can choose to cultivate the most economically viable crop, while applying water-saving technologies.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

N/A

Linkages gef projects

N/A

Planning gef grant

N/A

Planning non gef grant

N/A

Policy Influence

N/A

Capacity - Building Component

Taking into account the capacity development experience of Green Armenia NGO on various topics ranging from global environmental issues to agriculture and education, the project plans to conduct workshops and trainings on land degradation and carbon stock, climate change adaptation, new innovative irrigation methods, as well as high-value crop cultivation.

Replication of project activities

The project has a potential of replication, since the described problem is typical to rural communities of Armenia and the project is in line with the national regulatory frameworks on sustainable rural development and land management.

Policy Impact

The project is in line with RA Government Programme for 2021-2026, 2014-2025 Strategic Program of Prospective Development, as well as national long-term strategies on development of food security, climate change adaptation and other sectors.

Project sustainability

The project will create opportunity to irrigate abandoned lands, introduce variety of crops, apply water-efficient technologies that will contribute to improved livelihoods. Moreover, application of terracing is restored as a rehabilitation of the traditional culture, expand arable lands.

Notable Community Participation

The project will directly benefit 910 community members, out of which 300 are youth. Moreover, youth will be involved in different project activities, including participation in the system design, construction, and trainings on operation of the system.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project will disseminate information on project progress, meeting and trainings via different channels and media. Wider segment of the society will have a chance to get abreast on the project information also through the NGO website, regional and social media.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

The project will focus on raising awareness and disseminating knowledge on land degradation, carbon stock, climate change adaptation, new agroecological technologies. The knowledge gained and lessons learned will be shared through project reports, public events or news among regional and national stakeholders, local and international organizations and so forth.

Project Results

The project will produce the following results:
? Water losses in the community reduced by 80 %, water savings increased by 50 % due to new agricultural technologies and innovative irrigation practices, applied by 180 farmers.
? 120 hectares of arable land in Gndevaz settlement became irrigated and returned to cultivation due to rehabilitated irrigation infrastructure.
? At least 20 farmers increased income through high-value crops cultivation.
? Cultivated lands expanded by 3ha by using terracing as a restoration of a traditional cultivation culture.
? 180 farmers and land users, over 900 representatives of local government institutions increased their knowledge and capacities on land degradation and carbon stock, climate change adaptation, new methods on agricultural technologies and innovative irrigation.
? About 900 direct beneficiaries improved their livelihood due to rehabilitated irrigation infrastructure and introduced new agroecological practices.

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Indicators

Empowerment

Number and type of support linkages established with national government institutions 1

Biophysical

Hectares of degraded land rest 120

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) 180

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