29 Aug
SuccessStoriesARM, SuccessStoriesARM, SuccessStoriesARM

There are no coincidences

Arpine Hakobjanyan has been working at the “Elola” milk processing factory since 2016. She started her professional career as a dairy lab technician, then in a short period of time she registered professional growth, occupying the position of the laboratory manager.

Years ago, when I was still 27 years old, I accidentally found a job at the “Elola” milk processing factory. While studying at Goris State University, I acquired the qualification of a specialist in biochemistry, and after several years of non-professional work, I was looking for a job related to my qualification.

I saw the announcement of “Elola” company about the vacant position of a dairy laboratory technician and decided to try my hand at it.

The profession of milk and dairy technologist and laboratory technician is very interesting. You just have to try. I am sure that as soon as you go to a workshop and apply gained knowledge in practice, you will immediately fall in love with the profession and your work.

I got hired very easily, and after two-month probation period, my success story and professional growth began. My love for work and determination to excel did not go unnoticed by my employer, and within a short period of time I was offered the position of the quality control officer, and after 4 years I became the manager of the laboratory. Currently, I am entrusted to coordinate the process of obtaining ISO 22000 food safety management system (FSMS) certification.

While working at “Elola” LLC I received an offer to teach at the Goris State Agricultural Collage after professor Kh. Yeritsyan, in the faculty of milk and dairy technology.

I consider myself a lucky person because, even small, but I have my own investment in creating quality dairy products, I am happy that I am doing what I love and enjoy.

I am glad that I have the opportunity not only to apply my knowledge at work, but also to transfer it to my students.

I have been working in the field of dairy production for 7 years and I have never regreted my choice of career path.

Every single day I go to work with great pleasure and I strive to make more efforts to have my own contribution in safe food and quality products creation.

28 Aug
Uncategorized

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
Uncategorized

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
SuccessStoriesARM

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.

23 Nov
HomePageENG, NEWSENG, SuccessStoriesENG, SuccessStoriesENG, SuccessStoriesENG, SuccessStoriesENG, SuccessStoriesENG

Thanks to large family members’ joint efforts the common goal became a reality

Vayots Dzor marz’s Yelpin settlement would not be any different from other settlements in the region and in Armenia if a unique cheese factory had not been established there.

“Yerpin” agricultural cooperative that presents its products in the market under the “ArtCheese” brand started cheese production in 2016 with the involvement of 3 employees. One of the founders of the cooperative, Arthur Nazaryan, has taken over the management of the cheese factory, and the other members of the cooperative are involved in the processes of milk production and product processing. Over the years, the number of employees has increased to ten. The factory collects milk from the marz’s farmers and it is a stable source of income for about 35 farms.

With the support of the “Livestock Development in the South of Armenia” project implemented by the Strategic Development Agency NGO, the employees of the cooperative participated in a number of professional trainings, improved their milk production and processing knowledge, received necessary professional advice, and applied the gained skills and knowledge in their work. In recent years, with the support of the project, the factory has been reconstructed, bringing it in line with international food production standards and increasing production capacity. As a result, the quality of the product has improved, as well as the production and promotion of new products have been established.

“By combining all the efforts of the family members, the common goal of achieving greater recognition and consumption becomes much more realistic. The guarantee of our sustainable development and achievements is the consistent approach and continuous investments in the expansion of capacities, improvement of milk collection, production, marketing processes. We did not even think that we could start producing high-value cheeses when we founded the cooperative and used to produce only traditional types of cheese – Lori, Chanakh . Thanks to cooperation with the “Livestock Development in the South of Armenia” project and a number of other projects,  we also started producing high-quality cheeses,” -says Arthur Nazaryan.

Already in 2017, parmesan and gouda cheeses were produced and put on trial sale, and due to the demand, their production volumes are increasing year by year. Today the cooperative produces 14 types of cheese, not only for the Armenian market but also for the Russian Federation and the United States.

“As a result of our work, many families from Yelpin and neighboring communities  are already taking confident steps towards the development of livestock development knowing that in the future they will not have a problem with the sale of milk.” Production development plans are not limited to this, we also plan to increase production volumes, the number of sale points representing the company, and to start production of new lactic acid products (yogurt, tan, sour cream)”,– sums up Arthur Nazaryan.

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