| History |
| |
| The community was established in 1948 in Choraget Valley by a local leader, Bagrat Vardanian. It had a mixed population Armenians, some of whom had repatriated from Middle Eastern countries, and Azeris. In the 1970s, in honor of its founder, the village was renamed Bagratashen. Following the conflict in Nagorno Karabagh the village was populated by Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan. |
| |
| |
| Projects |
| |
Completed
ASIF-Local Government Training, provision of school furniture (75 units)
State Budget-school restoration (2002)
GTZ-renovation of cultural house
Ongoing
MCA- rehabilitation of irrigation pipeline
World Vision Area Development project-drinking water project including renovation of reservoirs and installing pipe for one part of the community
Health system modernization project (2006)
World Vision - Area Development project
|
| |
| |
| General Information |
| |
| Distance from Yerevan |
219 km |
| Distance from Marz Center |
79 km |
| Distance from border |
1 km |
|
|
| Altitude above sea level |
450 meter |
| Climate |
Moderate |
| |
|
| Historical monuments |
St. Anna Church (2003) |
|
|
| Population: |
3,046 |
| Households |
960 |
|
|
| Total area |
2295 hectares |
| Of which: |
|
| Pastures |
0 hectares |
| Arable land |
0 hectares |
| Orchards |
0 hectares |
| Forests |
0 hectares |
|
|
| Land use |
|
|
| |
| |
| PROGRAM COMPONENTS |
| |
| Infrastructure Assessment |
| |
|
| |
| |
| Infrastructure priorities for the rural community of Bagratashen |
| |
| Infrastructure |
Priorities |
Total amount needed (AMD) |
Funding sources |
| Road |
6 km intra-community roads need to be rehabilitated |
|
|
| Irrigation |
Needs rehabilitation |
|
Millennium Challenge Armenia- rehabilitation of irrigation pipeline |
| Drinking water |
The community currently uses poor-quality artesian water but with the restoration of drinking water mains from Stepanavan the problem will be solved for this and other neighboring villages; the village would require a new drinking water well |
|
World Vision -drinking water project including renovation of reservoirs and installing pipe for one part of the community |
| Electricity |
|
|
|
| Gas |
Construction of 6 km gas line |
|
|
Kindergarten
School |
Kindergarten (of which several rooms are already renovated) needs renovation. The village has two schools one of which needs furnishing and a heating system |
|
|
| Health Care |
Repair, furnish the existing clinic and possibly plan a regional health-care center that would cater to the sizeable population this sub-region |
|
Health system modernization project (2006) |
| Telephone: Cell / Land |
Old analogue system exists, most households connected, but with low quality |
|
|
| Internet |
|
|
|
| TV, radio |
|
|
|
| Community / Cultural Center |
Repair, furnish |
|
|
| Lighting and Landscaping |
|
|
|
| Other |
|
|
World Vision - Area Development project |
| Other |
|
|
|
| Other |
|
|
|
| Other |
|
|
|
| TOTAL NEEDED |
|
| |
| |
| Economic Assessment |
| |
One-fourth of the total area of Bagratashen consists of pasture land while much of the rest is arable.
In the past, it boasted rich orchards thanks to its warm climate. However, these cannot be restored without a proper irrigation network in place, i.e. the community will be able to grow crops such as olives, figs, peaches, grapes, pomegranate, watermelons, melons and tomatoes.
Should the community opt for expanding its existing orchards, it would need to refurbish and buy new agricultural machinery for horticulture and viticulture. This is an important consideration that would allow for the optimization of the economic potential of the village.
The animal husbandry sector could also be targeted for improvement through a revision of existing breeds, as well as the use of better quality animal feeds by farmers. This effort should aim at producing milk and meat products on a commercial level.
To realize the full farming potential in this community, a proper marketing strategy should be developed and implemented concurrently with increased production of both fruits and vegetables and animal products. In tandem with other bordering communities, moreover, the establishment (or revival) of food processing industries based on unique local produce (i.e. native varieties of grapes, olives, figs) may also be considered as part of the communitys overall economic development strategy.
For the past 15 years, Bagratashen has been developing as a transit point for travelers to and from Georgia. The village is practically situated on the busiest Armenia-Georgia border crossing point, 45 minutes from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. In comparison with the Georgian side of the border, the Armenian side has already developed an impressive infrastructure of restaurants, hotels and auto servicing and parking points serving transiting clients. In view of the ongoing process of economic development in both countries, the significant increase of trans-border trade and tourism (mainly Armenians traveling to Black Sea ports), the service industry at Bagratashen is prospering. However, unless this development is thoughtfully planned and promoted, the community will be unable to fully benefit from the current ad-hoc investment by service providers tapping into this market. Some of the elements of a good strategy would utilize the competitive advantages in the village, such as its natural endowments (Debed's river bank, dry landscape) for the development of services both for currently transiting clients and new regional tourists.
|
Share this page with your Facebook friends! 
The Armenia Fund Launches Khashtarak Health Clinic Restoration Project