Irrigation Upgrades to Expand Crops, Family Income
For over 15 years, farmers and villagers in Tazakand (located in Azerbaijan’s Astara district) suffered from the lack of a reliable water supply. With USAID Community Development Activity (CDA) financial and technical support, these once ever-present water concerns have dried up. The community’s newly rehabilitated irrigation system now provides Tazakand farmers with a dependable source for watering their orchards.
On July 26, 2008, Tazakand held a reception to celebrate the fruits of the Community Development’s Council’s (CDC) two-year planning efforts. Anne Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan; Mahir Guliyev, Head of Astara ExCom; Dr. Ken Yamashita, USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia; Scott Taylor, USAID Country Coordinator; and Zoran Radic, CHF International Country Director joined in the festivities. Tazakand neighbors and guests inspected the new irrigation system and water pump building, and received detailed information about system operations.
Ambassador Derse congratulated the Tazakand community on its success, and expressed her confidence that the rehabilitation project would lead to improved agriculture production and living conditions for its 1,468 residents. USAID’s Yamashita praised the CDC for working together to identify its community’s most pressing needs and build solutions, and complimented local women on their active participation in the Council’s efforts.
CDC member Nurida Azimova said that the improved water supply system will lead to better usage of their land and improved farming—noting that 20 hectares of orchards were now being irrigated. She thanked the American people, USAID, and CHF for providing the support and skills necessary for the CDC and local authorities to work together.
Tazakand villagers appreciate the difference their new irrigation system makes to their gardens and orchards, and take delight in the prospects for increased citrus fruit production and income. In the wake of this success, the Tazakand CDC members have continued to work closely on creating solutions responsive to the needs of their families and neighbors.
 |
 |
| Ambassador Derse (front, center) and USAID’s Yamashita (front, third from left) join Tazakand community leaders and guests to celebrate the inauguration of the villages new irrigation system which now supplies water to 20 hectares of orchards. |
US Ambassador Anne Derse stands with local women in front of the new water pump house. Women in Tazakand were active participants in the Community Development Council’s efforts to rehabilitate its irrigation system. |
Back to Top ^ |
