Environmental pollution, insufficient amount of irrigation water, lack of jobs, lack of agricultural market. Vardenis consolidated community in Gegharkunik Region, has not been spared from these problems typical of almost all agricultural communities in Armenia. The community residents presented their proposals regarding access to irrigation water, lack of jobs, food sales, and preventing emigration to EcoLur during their meeting in Sotq settlement in Vardenis Community within the framework of “Social and Ecological Responsibility” project.
The labor market in Vardenis community is quite narrow: the existence of a local government, a school, a kindergarten, some private companies and Sotq gold mine provide employment to only a small part of the population. For the majority of the population, agriculture and animal husbandry continue to be the only source of income. However, it is no longer safe and profitable to engage in agriculture after the Armenian-Azerbaijani war in 2020. On the other hand, weather conditions and insufficient water affect.
"Many settlements in the community today are on the verge of evacuation. In 5-10 years, no one may live in those settlements. This situation is facilitated with the drought, we do not have irrigation water supply, people cannot cultivate pastures, water crops, as deep wells are needed, and in that case irrigation systems to make the system profitable and useful, not 2 km of water flowing through the stream and bending sideways. Livestock breeding is declining, and the approach to the border after the war has led to a reduction in pastures and hayfields,” Vaghinak Voskanyan said, a leading specialist at Geghamasar Municipality of Vardenis Community.
In order to solve the problem of irrigation water, Vaghinak Voskanyan suggests the following: "We have a very convenient place in Sotq, where our river flows from. A reservoir can be built there, water can be collected all winter, the excessive water will flow to Lake Sevan, whereas the irrigation will be regulated in summer.” In order to develop cattle breeding in the community, the municipality employee proposes to create a large cattle breeding farm to raise profitable varieties, to increase milk and meat production.
According to the administrative representative of Kut settlement Sima Chitchyan, the slightly tense situation in the community can be alleviated due to the creation of small enterprises. "It would be good if GeoProMining Gold established a production as a social program to serve the needs of the plant, for example, a sewing workshop," she said.
Atom Gharibyan, a community servant in Kut village, referred to the issue of reducing the number of pastures. "After May 12, 2021, with the advent of the Azerbaijanis, about 1,050 hectares of pasture remained from the administrative area of our village remained under their control. If at that time 600-700 head of cattle were kept in the village, there would be no problem, but now if they keep that many animals, we do not have enough pasture, the cattle will remain hungry, so it is a big problem for the village. About 200 heads of animals decreased, not counting the hay we could not harvest, the animals were sold so that they could keep the rest.
The sheep have also decreased, they have sold all the fodder, and there is no place left for the animals to graze. If nothing changes, the village is emptied year after year. "If they can't keep a house or can’t work, they will have to think about moving with their families." According to him, the creation of a stone workshop could be an alternative job.
Hayk Daveyan, a history teacher, who is in charge of economic development of Geghamasar municipality, a Sotq village resident, mentioned that the priority in the community is security. "After the war, we have a new border. In May 2021, the Azerbaijani troops crossed the border, posing a direct threat not only to the population, but also to the emigration from the village." According to him, one way to develop the community is to solve the problem of irrigation water, the other is to create infrastructure for the development of tourism.
"In terms of development, the four settlements of our community, Pambak, Darnak, Areguni, and Geghamasar, are closer to Lake Sevan, and it is possible to create tourism development infrastructure there. There is no hotel or hostel, that's why the region is not developed. Maybe if they are opened, the infrastructure will develop," Hayk Daveyan said.
Bella Martirosyan, a history teacher at Sotq Basic School, said that one of the socio-economic problems in the community is the inaccessibility of the food market. "The main problem is the market, the product is not consumed. Consumption is not stable - one year sale may be successful, the next few years will be stagnant." As an alternative place of work, she proposed the establishment of a wool processing plant in the village, which would also ensure the development and sale of local products.
"Sheep breeding is developed in the village, it is possible to create a wool processing point, get yarn from wool, make socks from yarn, and give it to the army. The creation of other similar workshops will give a new breath to the village, the hustle and bustle in the population will gain momentum," she outlined.
Anahit Gevorgyan, regional manager of the project and President of Martuni Women's Community Council NGO, said that the development of Vardenis was greatly hindered by the existence of Sotq gold mine and the currently rapidly developing solar energy. "Vardenis has always been a storehouse of bread, it had very good fields and opportunities, but gradually, the operation of Sotq mine and the installation of solar stations here, changed a lot. Wheat could be cultivated, and the solar station could be placed on the mountains, why to install them on arable land.
Vardenis has a great opportunity to develop. Vardenis is our gate. The country's policy should be to strengthen Vardenis: workshops, processing enterprises, modern technologies shall be established in Azat, Norabak, Tretuk, Kut, agricultural plants shall be cultivated that require less water, so that production can be organized quickly. We should have refrigerators, dryers, dry fruit, store it, process the milk, create jobs here to bond the population to the village," she said. Anahit Gevorgyan also mentioned that the companies operating in the community are obliged to compensate the environmental damage caused to the community.
Anahit Gevorgyan also referred to the gap of not using the resources of Lake Sevan. "The catastrophe that threatened Lake Sevan 15-20 years ago, is valid nowadays, nothing has changed. The level has dropped by 15 cm, water is used mercilessly. Sevan resource is not used for its intended purpose. If rest houses could be built around Sevan, people would rest, the people would not go to Egypt to spend money, but would come to the shore of Lake Sevan to rest in summer and winter, but they missed that opportunity and turned Sevan into a fish farm. They are killing wildlife," she said.
“Social and Ecological Responsibility” project is carried out by the NGOs involved in "Social-Ecological Consortium” - “Center for Community Mobilization and Support”, “Martuni Women’s Community Council”, “New Horizons”, “EcoLur” and “Forests of Armenia” NGOs within the frameworks of The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project.
The Data for Accountable and Transparent Action (DATA) project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of DATA Project are the sole responsibility of “Center for Community Mobilization and Support” NGO and project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, EPF, and DATA Consortium.
March 31, 2022 at 09:09