The world bank

Irrigation

89. Rural infrastructure is in need of strengthening and the priority rural infrastructure development needs identified by the people consist of electricity and irrigation (figure --: everybody has access to electricity…). Most households have electricity only for a few hours per day; shortages of electricity disrupt the functioning of already-dilapidated irrigation systems. It also limits access to official information from TV and radio.

90. In Barda, focus groups emphasized that since irrigation and drainage systems are in bad condition, their lands run the risk of salinization. Lack of electricity is a big problem for them. Irrigation problems are similar in Salyan; even though there is an irrigation system in the village, due to lack of electricity, it does not function. In Udjar people say it may even be necessary to reconstruct the whole irrigation system. In Khachmaz, the irrigation system in the village is bad and even though farmers pay for water, the supply is inadequate.

91. The irrigation systems in rural Azerbaijan have been designed with the needs of large collective farms in mind and, therefore, are not always suitable to the needs of small independent farmers. It is important to assess the local needs and resources as well as the condition of existing system for further improvements in the irrigation system.²² The following table presents the extent of irrigation problems encountered in these five rayons, people’s satisfaction with the irrigation system and problems with the system.

	Barda	Lenkeran	Salyan	Udjar	Khachmaz
Existence of irrigation system in the village	67	67	100	100	100
Satisfaction levels
Dissatisfied with the existing system	72	84	96	50	31
Irrigation system problems
Lack of natural water sources	2	6	1	10	9
Technically inadequate system	44	66	31	66	45
Non-working drainage system	4	1	24	13	0
Non-working water supply plants	27	23	24	3	16
Lack of artificial watering system	12	4	0	2	22
Non-payment of fees	2	1	0	0	3
Other	7		19	7	4
N	120	119	181	174	180

92. Lack of irrigation systems appears to be a major problem especially in Barda and Lenkeran rayons. In Lenkeran, the Caspian Sea rise affected the ground water sources in many places and salinized the water, effectively reducing the fresh water supply available for drinking and irrigation. In Barda, people argue that the flow of Tartar River, originating in Armenia, has been cut partially by the Armenians and this is one of the main causes of lack of irrigation water. In all rural areas, those who have access to irrigation are usually dissatisfied with the service. The most important problems are decaying pipes and inadequacy of maintenance compounded with the lack of electricity which cause system malfunctions. A number of different views are prevalent among small holders on how to solve the irrigation problem. The following table presents a summary of these views and recommendations.

93. There is some willingness to pay for better quality irrigation since people realize potential benefits of a functioning irrigation system. Only in Lenkeran people think they should not be paying for irrigation. In the other four rayons, more than half of the interviewed households favor paying for better service. In Salyan and Khachmaz, which currently show higher levels of agricultural activity as compared to other rayons, there is also a significantly higher willingness to pay for irrigation. Current level of payments for irrigation varies by rayon. For instance, in Barda, 28 percent pay for irrigation while in Salyan 93 percent pay and in Lenkeran, nobody pays. In Udjar, 22 percent pay and in Khachmaz, only 5 percent pay.

94. It is the interviewed residents' opinion that physical improvements in the irrigation system will be inadequate; these investments should be made simultaneously with improvements in the management of the new system. Currently, in areas where irrigation systems exist, the lack of adequate management, coupled with deteriorated machinery and shortages of electricity, cause inadequate system functioning. Sediment block existing canals and water pumps do not work properly. Water exists in many areas, however, facilities to bring this water from its source to farms do not exist or function properly. Most residents want clearly defined responsibilities for the water management and they would prefer the State to take that responsibility. However, they might also be willing to take the matters into their hands through water management associations to which they make regular payments for good quality water supply to farms and gardens.