As part of the Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project, the Strategic Development Agency organized a study visit to the almond orchards of “Vanand Agro” CJSC on November 28. The visit was arranged for students from Rafael Patkanyan Primary School No. 9 in Vagharshapat, Armavir region.
In her speech, Lilit Beglaryan, VET consultant for the ՄԱՎԵՏԱ ծրագիր / MAVETA project, emphasized that the visit aimed to introduce students to the profession of gardening in fruit and nut orchards. This profession is one of the key specialties promoted by the MAVETA project through its dual education approach.
Hayk Stepanyan, farm manager of “Vanand Agro” CJSC, provided an overview of the gardener’s role, demonstrated the equipment and agricultural machinery used in the field, and answered students’ questions.
During the visit, the students toured the almond orchards, explored seedlings of various ages, and learned about the fundamentals of horticulture. They were especially captivated by the demonstration of modern equipment used for crushing and sorting almonds, which added a practical dimension to their learning experience.
The MAVETA project is funded by a broad coalition of international and local organizations led by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), including the Austrian Development Agency, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Government of Armenia, the Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) NGO, Izmirlian Foundation, the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and Vanand Agro CJSC.
The project’s implementing partners are the GIZ and HEKS/EPER with the involvement of SDA and the School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (HAFL).