09 Apr
NEWSARM

Technical Assistance to Goris State Agricultural College, a MAVETA Project Partner

Within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, “Strategic Development Agency” (SDA) NGO provided a minibus to Goris State Agricultural College on April 8. This support aims to strengthen the capacities of partner educational institutions and facilitate the organization of dual education programs.

The official handover ceremony was attended by Goris Deputy Mayor  Irina Yolyan, Acting Director of the Agricultural College Anna Torozyan, private sector partners of the MAVETA project, as well as teachers and students.

Welcoming the attendees, MAVETA Project Manager Lilit Hovhannisyan emphasized the importance of effectively implementing dual education, enhancing college-employer collaboration, and highlighted SDA’s long-standing commitment—spanning over two decades—to the development of the Syunik marz.

In her remarks, Deputy Mayor Irina Yolyan highly appreciated SDA’s initiatives for community and regional development, particularly its efforts to modernize agriculture and vocational education and training (VET) in Syunik.

Acting Director Anna Torozyan underscored the vital role of the MAVETA project in building the college’s capacities and acknowledged SDA’s continuous support. On behalf of the college, she presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the organization.

Additionally, within the project, modern equipment was provided to the college’s veterinary laboratory to support hands-on training for students.

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).

09 Apr
Uncategorized

IADAAM AEST Carries Out Agricultural Monitoring in Ararat

As part of ongoing efforts to support and monitor the agricultural sector, “Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes” (IADAAM) Project’s Agricultural Extension Service (AEST) experts Wilhelm Kruse and Paruyr Asatryan, along with IADAAM project AEST Coordinator Vardan Ivanyan and and AEST Advisor Hakob Tarverdyan, carried out a series of field visits in the Ararat region. The aim was to gather insights, offer targeted support, and promote sustainable agricultural practices through direct stakeholder engagement.

Artashat Agricultural Market – Experts conducted a price study to monitor current trends and fluctuations in the market, aiming to ensure fair pricing and identify potential challenges faced by both producers and consumers.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Store – A productive discussion was held with local vendors on the sale and safe usage of fertilizers and pesticides. The visit focused on promoting responsible usage, ensuring product quality, and addressing regulatory compliance.

On-site Farmer Consultation – Experts visited a farmer directly in their garden to provide tailored advisory support, discuss practical challenges, and explore solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability.

These field visits reflect IADAAM AEST’s commitment to strengthening agricultural practices through direct engagement, data collection, and expert guidance.

Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes (IADAAM) project, financed through the European Union (EU) with implementation by the French Development Agency (AFD) is an integrated initiative aimed at transforming irrigated agriculture in Armenia. 

Within the IADAAM project a technical assistance component is implemented jointly by Agriconsulting Europe S.A, Avenue Consulting Group LLC, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium and aims to provide institutional support to the Ministry of Economy (MoE) in the formulation of agricultural policies and reforms in priority areas,  provide technical support to the MoE in the implementing project activities, ensure communication and reporting for the IADAAM project.

07 Apr
NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG, NEWSENG

MAVETA Students Visit Vanand Agro’s Almond Orchards

Within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia (MAVETA) project, on April 7, a visit of a group of schoolchildren from Griboyedov Secondary School in Armavir region to the almond orchards of Vanand Agro was organized.

During the visit, Lilit Beglaryan, VET consultant for the MAVETA project, presented the MAVETA project and the orchard workers/nut farmers profession introduced at the Echmiadzin Craftsman State School through dual education, and emphasized the school-employer cooperation.

In his speech, the orchard manager and instructor Hayk Stepanyan, emphasized the demand for specialists working in almond and fruit orchards in the labor market, the organization of practical work in the orchard for apprentices studying with dual, as well as underscored the almond cultivation processes and the peculiarities of orchard management.

In the garden, first-year students studying orchard workers/nut farmers profession at the Anton Kochinyan Agricultural College of the Armenian National University of Agriculture through dual education, under the guidance of the lecturer, Eteri Stepanyan, carried out practical work, participating in tree planting.

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 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).

07 Apr
Uncategorized

IADAAM Focus Group Survey Preparation: Farmers’ Opinion as the Basis for Action

Within Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes (IADAAM) project a focus group training was conducted by Anna Sargsyan, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Strategic Development Agency NGO.

The main goal of the training was to prepare the participants – two consultants selected from the IADAAM AEST team, Aram Zakaryan and Narek Avetisyan – as focus group survey moderators. During the training, the techniques and methodology for conducting a farmer needs assessment were presented, as well as practical skills for organizing and conducting a group survey.

The trained moderators selected from the AEST team will subsequently conduct focus group surveys aimed at in-depth study of farmers’ needs and problems.

This initiative is an important prerequisite for increasing the targeting and effectiveness of IADAAM program interventions.

Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes (IADAAM) project, financed through the European Union (EU) with implementation by the French Development Agency (AFD) is an integrated initiative aimed at transforming irrigated agriculture in Armenia. 

Within IADAAM project a technical assistance component is implemented jointly by Agriconsulting Europe S.A, Avenue Consulting Group, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium and aims to provide institutional support to the Ministry of Economy (MoE) in the formulation of agricultural policies and reforms in priority areas, provide technical support to the MoE in the implementing project activities, ensure communication and reporting for the IADAAM project.

06 Apr
NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM, NEWSARM

Visit to the Agricultural Infrastructure of Gegharkunik Region

Within the framework of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project, an official visit was held on April 4 to a veterinary clinic established in the Lusakunk settlement, which is the only one in the region and serves more than 30 communities.

The delegation included Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Tatevik Sargsyan, Director of the Armenian Office of the Austrian Development Agency,Klaus Kapper, Deputy Governor of Gegharkunik Janik Bazeyan, Head of the Vardenis Community Aharon Khachatryan, President of the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO Mkrtich Ayvazyan, and the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” Project manager Vahe Hovhannisyan.

The delegation also visited the “Armen Harutyunyan” IE  slaughterhouse operating in the Vardenis community, where they got acquainted with the conditions of the slaughterhouse, refrigerators, laboratory, as well as the activities and safety rules.

“Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project is implemented by “Strategic Development Agency” NGO and financed by the Austrian Development Agency, the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.

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