The project team presented Feasibility studies for the locations of Konopnica and Pishica to Project Steering Committee (PSC) members, at its sixth meeting on 12 February 2020.
The feasibility studies for both irrigation systems, with a relatively small area of 30 ha in Pisihca and 40 ha in Konopnica, have been prepared under the new concept proposed by the PSC at previous meetings.
In Konopnica, the irrigation area has been decreased due to reduced water supply from the Konopnica River, because the water is already used downstream for drinking and irrigation. The offered solution was planned through an inclusive process, in consultation with farmers, and meets the parameters of economic viability.
At the Pishica site, at farmers’ persistence, the irrigation area was reduced from 170 to 30 ha to ensure irrigation of unpolluted arable land. The new system will use water from the dam Pishica Dam, located at higher altitudes, and the water has no contact with pollution.
A detailed technical overview and environmental impact analysis was provided for both locations.
The project team also briefed the PSC on ongoing capacity building activities for farmers, future users of small irrigation systems. Six workshops were held during January 2020, at which 135 farmers received the necessary information on the process of establishing an agricultural cooperative through which they would manage the irrigation system themselves. The project will assist farmers in all the necessary steps for organizing and registering cooperatives: informative meetings, working groups, developing a business plan, preparing membership agreements, preparing a Statute, and other supporting documents and procedures.