28 Aug
SuccessStoriesENG

The Desire To Save Lives

Born in Kapan, Syunik Region, Rima Harutyunyan dreamed of becoming a doctor since she was a child, but by chance, she became a skilled veterinarian.

Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a doctor and saving lives. After finishing school I tried to enter Yerevan State Medical University, but my grades were not sufficient and I had to make a quick choice. I decided to enroll in the preparatory course of the Yerevan Zootechnical Veterinary Institute, with the expectation of transferring to the Medical University from the 2nd or 3rd year. However, contrary to the expectations, I stayed at the same university for six years.

Due to high performance in the 2nd year, I was given the opportunity to transfer to another educational institution, but the internships organized by the Yerevan Zootechnical Veterinary Institute were so interesting that I decided to stay at the same institute to continue my education and become a veterinarian.

After graduation, I got a job at the Animal Insemination Station in Kapan as a veterinarian and insemination technician. A year later, I started working in the same institution as an epidemiologist. After some time, I joined “VaMax” company as the chief veterinarian of the farm and worked there for 10 years.

Quite complicated, but in the end it’s a very rewarding work.

In the case of humans, providing medical care is easy, which cannot be said for the animals, the work of veterinarians is more complicated. Providing medical care in the case of animals is more difficult because animals do not talk or express their pain, and even their owners often do not know what the problem is.

I, who once dreamed of becoming a doctor, became a beloved and respected veterinarian. Having worked in the field for 40 years and having treated countless animals, I founded my own veterinary center. Currently I work at the “Center for Agricultural Services” SNPO and continue to provide veterinary services in the rural areas of Kapan community. I never regretted becoming a veterinarian and devoting the best years of my youth to this profession.

09 Apr
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Armine’s optimism became the key to her success

47-year-old Armine lives in Khachaghbyur rural settlement of Vardenis enlarged community of Gegharkunik marz. Armine is engaged in animal husbandry. Even the difficulties could not affect Armine’s optimism and ability to strive for more.

Armine was born in Yerevan. After getting married, she moved to Khachaghbyur rural settlement of Vardenis enlarged community. Initially she was engaged in trade and when she had a success, she started buying cows with the money she earned. At first, she has bought 2-3 cattle. At the same time her parents gave her 3-4 pigs as a gift and she started to enlarge the farm. She sold the born piglets and bought a heifer instead. As Armine notes: “I have always had difficulties, but I have always been optimistic. I sold the new born calves and paid off the loans. Thanks to God, now I have two apartments bought by my own efforts and lots of lands that I plan to cultivate.”

Armine mainly sells calves to fellow villagers, and with the money she buys land or dairy cows. She processes some part of milk by her own, the other part she sells to Rosa 1 agricultural cooperative operating in Khachaghbyur (dairy production). The main product she produces is homemade cheese. The number of cows is currently 10, and 4 have been injured recently and Armine had to sell the meat. As Armine notes, she has never had a problem of selling the cheese and sour-cream of her produce, the demand is always more than she is able to produce in her modest conditions.

In 2023, Armine participated in the REBCA project, received 1.6 ha of barley and sainfoin seed as a technical assistance. She bought 0.4 ha of seed by her own finances and sowed total 2 ha of land. If the weather conditions will be favorable, she expects that from 1 ha will yield 8 tons of grass harvest (400 hacks*20kg) of sainfoin grass, and 2 ha of barley will yield 3-4 tons next year.

20 Jan
Uncategorized

The profession passed from generation to generation

Aleksan is a young professional specialized in veterinary and breeding of the farm animals in Shirak region. Interest towards the veterinary profession began since childhood, the profession has been passed down from generation to generation, from the father to son.

In order to obtain a profession, in 2012 he entered the Stepanavan Agricultural College, choosing the specialty of Veterinary. In parallel with his study, he began to deal with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of certain animal diseases.

During this period, in addition to the private veterinary services, he has also covered the mandatory preventive vaccinations of the village animals and other measures carried out within the framework of the state order.

As a hardworking person who always wants to improve his knowledge and skills, Aleksan decided to get a higher education and already in 2016, he was admitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry of the National Agrarian University of Armenia, choosing the specialization of a sanitary expert.

Cooperation with the “Strategic Development Agency” NGO began in 2020, within the framework of which Aleksan participated in many retraining courses, experience exchange visits, which, according to him, improved his professional skills.

Aleksan had been providing veterinary services for many years in more than 5 settlements of Shirak region, when in 2022, at the urging of farmers, he made a decision to specialize in the artificial insemination of the cattle.

In February 2023, after participating in theoretical and practical courses on the cattle insemination, as well as after receiving technical support, he started providing artificial insemination services in his community. In the first half of 2023, he inseminated 320 cows, which were the animals of 110 farmers. Next year, he plans to double this result at least.

As a result of his hard work, he has reached the point where the veterinary and artificial insemination services provided by him are used not only by the farmers of Azatan settlement, but also the neighboring Benyami, Arevik, Aigabats, Bayandur and even Maralik settlements.

Aleksan believes that he has achieved professional success by overcoming challenges, obstacles that he has faced in his practice, and, most importantly, by improving his knowledge and professional skills. He notes that he proudly carries the profession of a veterinarian, which ensures the well-being of his family and the future of his children.

28 Oct
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«Diligence as a boost to prosperity»

Dustrik Galstyan, a 51-year-old farmer, lives in the settlement of Artavan of Zaritap community, Vayots Dzor region, with her son and sister-in-law. Dustrik never cease to develop and improve herself despite her many responsibilites within her family.

Within the framework of the project implemented by the Strategic Development Agency NGO, Dustrik, along with other women, received professional consultations, which helped her improve her knowledge on farm management.

With the support of the program, she participated in various agricultural food festivals, which provided an opportunity to not only generate additional income, but also to gain trust, information and exchange experience.

«I have always been involved in cattle breeding as a way of helping my husband. And now thanks to the workshops, I have gained the knowedge necessary and apply 80% of the consultations to the procedures. I even do monthly calculations, I calculate expenses and incomes, I take notes. Before participating in the program, I had 12 cattle, of which 5 were dairy cows, today I have increased that number to 22, of which 10 are dairy cows,” says Dustrik.

«Only diligence and aspiration bring results. If you increase the number of cattle, you automatically increase the number of profit. As a result of my work, my family’s budget increased, I was able to host a big wedding for my daughters. Courage is half the battle, I say from my experience, because thanks to my courage I was able to achieve many challenges  and I will still achieve them. In addition to cattle breeding, I am engaged in agro-tourism, through which I introduce my guests to rural life and traditions.

Livestock is an integral part of tourism, the tourists that I host usually participate in the milking process, animal feeding and baking. They appreciate the opportunity to use traditional rural products».

27 Oct
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Passion is the Key to Success

The Kurghinyan family of 5 lives in Shirak marze’s Krasar village. The family is mainly involved in the livestock sector, never having the need to leave the country and work abroad. The youngsters of the family, after graduating school, have started helping their parents in the farm.

The family has been working in cattle breeding for a while. During the first period, the family owned 6 cows, however after the fall of the Soviet Union, they decided to increase the number of livestock.

«We renovated my husband’s grandfather’s old barns, and we increased the number of livestock. We brought a number of livestock and after getting informed about the Project we decided to apply, as we met the requirements» – Hasmik told.

The family gives the milk produced in the farm to Amasia cheese factory. It is essential to mention, that Amasia cheese factory is a beneficiary to the Project «Livestock Development in Armenia: South-North», for this exact reason, the latter has invited the family to a number of meetings. «We appreciated the fact that the Project supports farmers. We are also aware, that within the framework of the Project, a number of veterinary points were created in different communities. The establishment of veterinary points ameliorated the access to quality veterinary services, the veterinarian is now more accessible and the necessary medicine is more affordable»

Mrs Kurghinyan’s husband, on several occasions, has participated to the educational workshops organized by SDA NGO. Improvement of infrastructure (improvement of pastures, installation of troughs) enabled more success in the livestock sector. The family’s plans include the organization of an automated manure removal system. Taking advantage of the effectiveness of the training, the family even expressed a desire to grow the farm. In Hasmik’s words: «If you do any work with passion, you will definitely succeed. If you do it reluctantly then, you will not succeed in that work».

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