The most intensive development took place after the Second World War. In 1975, the area equipped for irrigation was 1.17 million ha. The Upper Gabarakh canal runs southeast from the Mingachevir reservoir to the Araks River. The Upper Shirvan canal also starts from the Mingachevir reservoir and runs east to the Akhsu River. Sprinkler irrigation and micro-irrigation are mainly used on perennial plantations and vineyards.
Most schemes are state owned.
Information on areas of irrigated crops refers only to part of the total area equipped for irrigation, as no information is available for the part of the country that is located in the disputed zone occupied by Armenia and in the zone declared neutral since May 1986. The Committee of Ecology and Nature Use, in charge of the monitoring of salinization and water resources pollution. This law establishes private property rights to land. The land is to be transferred to all rural inhabitants free of charge. It can then be sold freely, exchanged, transferred by right of succession, leased or used as mortgage.