“Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes” (IADAAM) project continues to make significant strides in promoting sustainable land management and agricultural development. As part of the ongoing efforts under the IADAAM project, land consolidation experts recently held a series of consultations with various stakeholders and farmers to discuss innovative solutions for improving land use efficiency and fostering sustainable agricultural development.

During these meetings, experts engaged in meaningful discussions with farmers, local authorities, and agricultural organizations to address key challenges related to fragmented land ownership. The goal was to explore strategies that enhance productivity, facilitate infrastructure development, and ensure fair and transparent land consolidation processes.

Farmers had the opportunity to share their experiences, voice concerns, and gain insights into how land consolidation can create long-term benefits, including better access to resources, enhanced irrigation systems, and increased market opportunities. Stakeholders, in turn, emphasized the importance of collaborative and transparent decision-making to ensure that consolidation efforts align with local needs and priorities.

IADAAM project remains committed to fostering sustainable land governance and strengthening rural communities through strategic land consolidation. These engagements mark an essential step toward fostering a more structured and productive agricultural landscape.

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.

Within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, a short-term training course titled “General Provisions and Effective Approaches to Livestock Breeding” was conducted in the Chambarak community of the Gegharkunik marz from March 3 to 6. This course was designed for displaced people from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and local vulnerable groups.

The three-day program was led by Arevik Azizyan, Associate Professor at the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU).

Participants were introduced to various well-known cattle breeds in Armenia, learning about effective care techniques, herd management strategies, reproduction practices, and feed production. The course also emphasized the importance of artificial insemination and fundamental veterinary and sanitary measures.

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).