On June 30, the closing event of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project was held, during which the results of the external evaluation were also presented.

In his welcome speech, Mkrtich Ayvazyan, Chairman of the Strategic Development Agency NGO, emphasized that livestock development has been a priority for the organization for over two decades. He noted that the “ Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project was a logical continuation of previous initiatives and highlighted the consistent and dedicated work of the project team.

Tatevik Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, commended SDA’s efforts and the project’s role in transforming and modernizing Armenia’s livestock sector.

Nora Alanakyan, Deputy Head of the Yerevan Office of the Austrian Development Agency, highlighted the importance of the project’s long-term impact and the integration of international best practices into Armenia’s livestock development strategies.

Vahe Hovhannisyan, Project Manager of the “Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North 2” project, briefly outlined the interventions and outcomes, noting that the external evaluation was conducted by Avenue Consulting Group LLC.

The consulting firm’s experts, Paruyr Asatryan and Tatev Mkrtchyan, presented the evaluation findings, which focused on the effectiveness, sustainability, targeted resource use, and social impact of the program.

Key Results of the Project:

1. Activities were implemented in 70 settlements across three regions: Shirak, Gegharkunik, and Syunik.
2. Beneficiaries reported increased income and new employment opportunities as a result of improved animal health, better milk quality, and increased productivity.
3. Several project interventions have been integrated into state support programs, including initiatives on smart livestock, productivity enhancement, feed production, and pasture infrastructure improvement.
4. The project addressed cross-cutting themes such as environmental protection, climate change, gender equality, and support for vulnerable groups.

The project’s conclusion highlighted that thorough initial planning, active beneficiary engagement, sectoral collaboration, and strong public-private partnerships were essential to its success.

“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.

As part of the Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes (IADAAM) project, a joint visit was carried out to Parakar Municipality, followed by a field inspection of the Norakert and Baghramyan irrigation systems. The delegation included IADAAM Project Manager Karen Harutyunyan, IADAAM Team Leader Stefan Rosenow, AEST Armavir Coordinator Vardan Hambardzumyan, the AEST Armavir team, and the Heads of the Norakert and Baghramyan Communities. The discussion centered on the provision of four filtration systems to support 620 hectares of irrigated farmland in the Baghramyan and Norakert pilot areas. These filters will play a key role in enabling the shift toward efficient drip irrigation.

📍 Key highlights from the visit:

🔹 The meeting at Parakar Municipality facilitated an open dialogue on how best to cooperate in enhancing irrigation services. The municipality expressed interest in future partnership, recognizing the project’s potential to strengthen agricultural capacity in the region.

🔹 During the field visit, the team inspected the existing pipe system (but not operating) and potential filter station locations. Although parts of the current pipe networks are still in use for traditional furrow irrigation, the area shows strong potential for the expansion of drip systems. The timely procurement of filtration systems was emphasized, along with potential cost-sharing mechanisms through farmer group participation.

🔹 At the Baghramyan community office, project representatives met with local leadership and farmers who expressed enthusiasm about future collaboration, including forming agricultural cooperatives and exploring new high-value crop options such as pistachios. The community office is now ready for use, and preparations are underway for a drip irrigation field day, aimed at showcasing modern irrigation practices to local farmers. In addition, an informational workshop on cooperative development is planned for September 2025.

📌 Next steps:

• Submit a request to the PIU for approval and support to procure the filter systems.
• Share project communication platforms with local municipal leaders to ensure continued engagement.
• Organize practical demonstrations and capacity-building sessions with interested farmer groups.

This visit marks an important milestone in promoting sustainable water use, climate-resilient agriculture and inclusive rural development in the target area.

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 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.