The objective of the Vedi Reservoir and Irrigation System Construction Project is to improve water resource management and enhance the sustainability of irrigated agriculture in the Ararat Plain through the creation of additional renewable water resources and the modernization of irrigation systems. The project will contribute to the efficient use of agricultural land, an increase in agricultural production, and the sustainable, efficient management of water resources.

The total value of the project is EUR 90 million, of which EUR 75 million was provided through loan funds from the French Development Agency (AFD), and EUR 15 million was provided under co-financing by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Project implementation commenced in 2016. Main construction works were carried out from March 1, 2017, to June 30, 2025, and the launch of the reservoir filling is scheduled for 2026.

Main Objectives of the Project:

• Replacing mechanical irrigation systems with gravity-fed irrigation
• Increasing the level of irrigation water security
• Reducing water intake from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes
• Incorporating new land areas into the irrigation system
• Reducing irrigation water losses
• Ensuring reliable and uninterrupted irrigation

Main Components:

The following works were carried out within the framework of the project:

• Construction of the Vedi Reservoir with a total capacity of 29.4 million m³, including the construction of dams and auxiliary hydro-technical structures
• Construction of water intake structures on the Vedi and Khosrov rivers
• Construction of a water conveyance system
• Construction of an irrigation system
• Development of a detailed design for the on-farm irrigation network covering approximately 3,220 ha of land fed by the Vedi River and located within the impact zone of the Vedi Reservoir
• Construction and reconstruction of on-farm irrigation networks in pilot areas to introduce modern irrigation technologies

Design and construction works for the water intake structures on the Vedi and Khosrov rivers, the water conveyance system (total length: 10.5 km), and the irrigation system (total length: around 36.2 km) have been completed. Under a separate component of the project, on-farm irrigation networks were also constructed across approximately 580 ha of pilot land areas within the impact zone of the Vedi Reservoir and the Vedi River.

Description of the Reservoir:

The Vedi Reservoir is located in the Ararat Region, on the Kotuts torrent bed on the right bank of the Vedi River. The reservoir is fed by spring flood and free flows from the Vedi and Khosrov rivers. The total capacity of the reservoir is 29.4 million m³.

Expected Outcomes:

Implementation of the project will enable a transition from mechanical irrigation systems to gravity-fed irrigation, saving approximately 19 million kWh of electricity annually. As a result, reliable and uninterrupted irrigation will be ensured for around 3,220 ha of land, 11 pumping stations will be decommissioned, 4 additional pumping stations will operate at partial capacity, and water losses in irrigation networks will be reduced by about 20–25%. At the same time, the construction and modernization of on-farm irrigation networks will promote the broader application of water-saving technologies, particularly drip irrigation systems.