On 28 November 2025, the Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets (INLIMA) Project was officially launched. The event brought together representatives of national and regional government institutions, international development partners, local organizations, sector experts, and community authorities from the target regions.
The event underscored the importance of sustained policy development and comprehensive reforms in Armenia’s livestock sector.
In her opening remarks, Tatevik Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, emphasized that livestock development remains a strategic priority for the Government. She highlighted its essential role in increasing rural household incomes, strengthening food security, and promoting competitive agricultural production. According to her, projects such as INLIMA serve as key instruments for implementing national policy effectively by combining government support with international best practices and local expertise.
Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO, emphasized the importance of long-term investments in the livestock sector, the development of essential infrastructure, and the expansion of market access. He stressed that meaningful and sustainable progress requires strong collaboration between the public and private sectors and noted that systemic, coordinated action is critical for achieving measurable improvements.
Speaking on behalf of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) – the project’s donor organization, Nora Alanakyan, Deputy Head of the ADA Yerevan Office, reaffirmed the Agency’s long-standing and productive partnership with Armenia in the field of agriculture. She noted that INLIMA Project aims not only to address technical challenges but also to strengthen institutional capacities, facilitate knowledge transfer, and support the long-term resilience of rural communities.
INLIMA Project Manager Vahe Hovhannisyan presented the project’s overarching vision, including its objectives, core components, target groups, geographic coverage, and anticipated outcomes. He emphasized that the project is designed to improve sustainable livestock management in Armenia and enhance farmers’ livelihoods by supporting organized animal herding systems, introducing modern breeding technologies, and expanding access to meat and dairy markets.
Mr. Hovhannisyan also outlined the project’s planned activities, which include the coordination of seasonal herding routes, development of reproductive and veterinary services, improvement of pasture gathering points and related infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives for farmers, veterinarians, and artificial insemination specialists.
The project covers seven regions of Armenia: Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, Shirak, Ararat, Armavir, and Aragatsotn. Its beneficiaries include farmers, rural communities, veterinary and reproductive service providers, as well as meat and dairy processing enterprises.
The event highlighted the long-term impact of INLIMA, aimed at fostering a more competitive, efficient, and market-integrated livestock sector that contributes to rural development, enhances food security, and supports the socio-economic advancement of Armenia’s regions.
The launch event concluded with the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the Strategic Development Agency NGO. This agreement marks an important step toward establishing a stable, long-term partnership dedicated to advancing sectoral reforms and maximizing the project’s impact across the regions.
“Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) project is implemented by Strategic Development Agency (SDA) NGO and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.