What does the livestock sector in Armenia look like today? What challenges and opportunities do farmers face? How are dairy and meat value chains evolving?
To explore these questions firsthand, students from the Master’s Programme in Agribusiness Management at IEDES (Panthéon-Sorbonne University, France) visited Armenia’s Shirak region within the framework of the INLIMA project.
During their visit, the students were introduced to the work of the Strategic Development Agency (SDA) and the initiatives being implemented across Shirak. They also visited the villages of Tsaghkut and Aregnadem in the Amasia community, where they met with farmers Ruben Tovmasyan and Hayk Nikoghosyan, whose farms have benefited from projects implemented by SDA with funding from the Austrian Development Agency.
Through these field visits, the students gained valuable insights into pasture-based livestock farming, observed the day-to-day operations of local farms, explored the dynamics of dairy and meat markets, and engaged directly with farmers to learn about their experiences, challenges, and perspectives on the sector’s development.
The visit provided a unique opportunity to witness how knowledge, practical experience, and sustained commitment contribute to agricultural development and create new opportunities for rural communities.
Complementing the study visit, the group also discovered the rich cultural heritage of Gyumri, visiting the Aslamazyan Sisters Gallery, the Black Fortress, and strolling through the city’s historic streets.
Visits such as these serve as valuable platforms for international knowledge exchange, enabling future agribusiness professionals to gain first-hand exposure to agricultural value chains, farming systems, and community-based rural development practices in Armenia.
“Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) project is implemented by Strategic Development Agency NGO and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.