Water for bountiful harvests: which projects get priority in Georgia?

Citrus fruit, grapes, nuts, potatoes, tea - Georgia is known for its bounty of agricultural products, but successful cultivation requires reliable irrigation. To improve water access, a rehabilitation and new construction program for irrigation reservoirs in eastern Georgia is being planned. The Georgian Ministry of Environment and Agriculture has commissioned a preliminary study to prioritize projects.

To that end, our experts are examining the technical and economic aspects of the planned irrigation projects. This includes the hydrological, geological and geotechnical, planning, agro-economic and environmental aspects. The range of projects includes existing dams and reservoirs in need of rehabilitation or expansion, as well as the construction of new irrigation facilities in suitable locations.

Cost estimation and priority list

Tractebel’s tasks also include planning the scope of all construction and rehabilitation work and estimating the costs, as well as determining the impact of additional and more reliable irrigation services for agricultural productivity. Based on these assessments, our experts will develop a multi-criteria analysis by June 2022. The result will consist of a list of priorities and will indicate which projects should be developed in the next phase.

EVALS modelling software

To execute this mandate, our team of experts is using Tractebel's in-house developed software EVALS. The program simulates and optimizes the long-term operation of a reservoir, with storage and seasonal water release, on the basis of statistical hydrological data. EVALS also optimizes the layout and dimensions of the required structures and uses this information to determine the estimated completion costs with the integrated cost module.

Which structures need to be rehabilitated? Tractebel experts are answering this question.

What is the most effective way for river water to reach the fields? Tractebel is investigating possible measures.

"Our team is working to ensure the development of additional water resources to improve agricultural irrigation, thereby contributing to Georgia's economic development," says Winfried Guth, project manager at Tractebel.