International Consultant on Crop Water Requirement and Irrigation Scheduling

In Armenia, the irrigation norms and regimes define the following parameters: seasonal irrigation rate (norm), single irrigation rate (norm), irrigation frequency, inter-irrigation periods, and watering duration. The norms are established, based on long-term measurements, taking into account the soil-climatic conditions of the irrigated region, biological characteristics of crops, cultivation and irrigation methods. In irrigation regime, the parameters are calculated taking into consideration surface irrigation method and rainfall probability for 50% and 75%. This is a set schedule practice. The irrigation regime is used for designing the irrigation systems, as well as for management of irrigation schedule. It more or less satisfies design requirements of the irrigation systems. However, it cannot accurately represent requirements of irrigation scheduling for particular year due to its calculations for average year with 50% or 75% rainfall probabilities. This often leads to over-watering, which result in lower crop yields and wasted water. It cannot be used directly for irrigation scheduling with more advanced irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation systems.

Given that updating (based on  the FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No 56 ) “Irrigation Norms and Regimes of Agricultural Crops for Irrigated Lands in the Republic of Armenia” for the entire territory of Armenia will require several years and intensive resources, including field measurements, for this study it is proposed  to focus on a pilot area and selected set of crops. As pilot area, it is proposed to focus on Ararat valley, and as pilot crops, on table grape, tomato, cucumber and water-melon.

The Ararat valley is the largest plain in Armenia. The soil is fertile and the climate conducive to crop production. The Ararat valley is the largest agricultural zone in Armenia, providing up to 40% of the agricultural GDP. Various crops for export and local consumption are produced, including wheat, vegetables, grapes, and other fruits.

Due to climate change, the Ararat valley region is projected to experience higher warming than the rest of the country for all seasons. Temperature increases are predicted to be highest in the summer, and precipitation decline to be the greatest in the summer, the key agricultural season. In the agriculture sector, the most climate-sensitive sector, crop yields are predicted to decline and irrigation demands to increase with climate change. In order to maintain crop yields, substantially more irrigation will be needed. According to the “Regional Climate Change Impacts Study for the South Caucasus Region” (UNDP/ENVSEC, 2011) report, in the Ararat valley region, irrigation water requirements for vegetables are predicted to increase by 38-42%. Thus, updating the irrigation norms becomes prerogative.

Objective of assignment:  

The objective of the assignment is in the framework of the Development of Armenia’s Fourth National Communication (FNC) to the UNFCCC and Second Biennial Update Report” UNDP GEF and “National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to advance medium and long-term adaptation planning in Armenia” UNDP-GCF  Projects to support Armenia in the process of introducing crop water requirement model based on FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No 56 (“Crop Evapotranspiration: Guidelines for Computing Crop Water Requirements”) and subsequently updating irrigation norms in Armenia “Irrigation Norms and Regimes of Agricultural Crops for Irrigated Lands in the Republic of Armenia”, developed by the Water Problems Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Armenia in 2007. Moreover, because of the climate change, an update of the data of the irrigation regime is required.

For information on FNC project visit: http://nature-ic.am/hy/projects/Fourth-National-Communication-and-Second-Biennial-Update-Report/20

For information on NAP project visit: http://www.nature-ic.am/en/projects/National-Adaptation-Plan/1030

Under the supervision of UNDP CO and coordination of UNDP Climate Change Programme Coordinator, the International Consultant will be responsible for working with the Ministry of Environment and UNDP-GCF project team in performing the following tasks:

• Conduct desk study on the existing irrigation norms in Armenia with the support of the national expert, who will provide all available and relevant information;
• Propose detailed methodology for updating the irrigation norms for the selected set of crops in Ararat valley, taking into consideration data availability and the approach FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No 56;
• Update the irrigation norms for the selected set of crops in Ararat valley with the support of the national expert;
• Develop detailed step-by-step recommendations, for replicating the work for the entire territory of Armenia, including delivery of presentation and preparation of corresponding toolbox with guidelines.