1. “SMART” APPROACH TO EFFICIENT WATER RESOURCE USAGE Anna Yeritsyan June 26-29, Ravello, Italy

2. Overview of the fish industry in Armenia Preconditions Low costs of starting a fish farm Low costs of water required for operating a fish farm Results About 180-200 fish farms opening and operating in Ararat Valley Booming industry since early 2000-s

3. Economic benefits Volumes of fish production increased 18 times from 2005 to 2014 Fish is within the top five categories of agricultural exports (30,5 mln USD) Fish production volumes in 2014 about 24 thous. tones Source: Uncomtrade database

4. Average fish farm layout

5. Environmental concerns Fish farm water usage patterns – single cycle Decreasing levels of groundwater Lack of water for irrigation in the valley Permittable level of groundwater abstraction (1093 MCM) used only by the fish farms Source: Mendez England and Associates, (2013)

6. Distribution of fish farms in Ararat valley by the water usage permits

7. Integrated fish farming systems

8. Option 1 Construction of an irrigation canal to direct the discharge water to the nearest community -Primary water main (300 m 50 mm plastic sewage pipes) - about 160 Euros - 0.75 kwt pump – 287 Euros - Construction supplies – 74 Euros Total material expenses – a little over 500 Euros

9. Option 2 Building a small aquaponics greenhouse and recirculating the water ◦Nutrients in discharge water help plants grow ◦Additional income for farmer (diversification) ◦Residues from biomass may serve as feed for fish stock ◦Water reuse and additional source of clean water

10. Option 2 Calculations 100 square meters plastic greenhouse construction – 4,630 Euros Water testing photometer – 560 Euros PVC pipes – 1,018 Euros Pump – 288 Euros Plastic plant beds – 1,850 Euros Heating system – 1,040 Euros Total material expenses – under 10,000 Euros

11. Type of the activityCost of the activity Cost of the activity (own labour) Purchasing seeds 14 Planting seeds in the ground 18.50 Replanting the seedlings in the raft 55.50 Heating 343 Insecticides/spraying 93 Labour for maintenance of the greenhouse 1300 Harvest 200 Delivery to the market 189 Total expenditure 608369 Total harvest (kg) 900 Total revenue 1170 Total profit (Total revenue - Total expenditure 562801

12. Expansion opportunities The calculated cycle of salad growing can be implemented 2 times a year. In addition if the fishery has a WUP of 30 litres per second, so the average usage of water in the greenhouse will be nearly 27% of all available water. This implies that the scale of greenhouse operations can be expanded 3 times upon the need.

13. Anna Yeritsyan anna@icare.am (+374)10 52 28 39, ext.11 Thank you