Cultivating Resilience: Tsovak Settlement Pioneers Climate-Smart Water Management
Lianna: “Tsovak community in Armenia’s Gegharkunik region is at the forefront of an ambitious initiative to transform its agricultural landscape, enhancing both land irrigation and climate change resilience through the “Introduction of Low-Carbon Solutions for Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources in Tsovak Community” project.
For decades, Tsovak faced severe challenges, with approximately 70% of its 645 hectares of arable land left unirrigated due to inaccessible water resources and decaying infrastructure. This led to alarming rates of land degradation, desertification, and fodder shortages, exacerbating socio-economic hardships for rural households.
In response, the project has thoroughly addressed these critical issues. A key achievement involved clarifying the ownership of the Tsovak pumping station. Through a Government of Armenia decree, the station was officially transferred to the Gegharkunik Water User Association.”


Lianna: “Innovation in low-carbon solutions is at the heart of this project. A 20-kilowatt solar photovoltaic station has been successfully installed and is operational within the pumping station area, demonstrating a commitment to renewable energy and reduced emissions. Powerful, energy-efficient pumps have been procured and are ready for installation, poised to draw water from the River Mets Masrik and irrigate up to 500 hectares of land.”


Lianna: “Collaboration has been key to rapid progress. The project included the installation of approximately 4.05 km of irrigation pipelines and the establishment of five demonstration farms in Tsovak, Lusakunq, Torfavan, Lchavan, and Akunq, promoting new climate-resilient high-value crops and modern irrigation practices. This ensures practical knowledge transfer to local farmers. The project also organised three training sessions and published three information leaflets on climate mitigation and adaptation, land degradation prevention, and carbon sequestration practices.”


Lianna: “Expected outcomes are transformative: The project anticipates providing irrigation to 300 hectares of arable land, significantly reducing land degradation and fostering sustainable land use practices. Farmers and local self-government representatives will benefit from enhanced capacities through targeted training and information campaigns. The improved agricultural output is set to boost farmer incomes and improve the socio-economic conditions of rural households. While approximately 300 hectares will immediately become irrigable with furrow irrigation, a future transition to modern irrigation systems promises to expand this to nearly twofold, solidifying Tsovak’s climate resilience and securing its agricultural future.”
About the project
Launched in December 2022 and completed in June 2025, this large-scale endeavor is testament to impactful partnerships. Implemented by “BLEJAN” Ecological, social, business support NGO (a member of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum) through funding from the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme with a total amount of USD 50,000, the project benefits from significant co-financing of USD 55,840 leveraged from Vardenis Municipality and the “Gegharkunik” Water User Association. This substantial co-financing underscores a robust collaborative effort, enabling the project to introduce low carbon solutions for sustainable management of land and water resources, and promote climate-resilient agricultural practices in the community.
To find out more
Find out more about Blejan NGO and this project on their website: https://blejanngo.org/