Within the framework of the “Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes” (IADAAM) Project, we recognize that agricultural cooperatives are a vital approach for transforming rural livelihoods and accelerating sustainable agricultural development in Armenia.
Our vision is to promote the formation and strengthening of modern, inclusive, and accountable cooperatives that empower farmers to act collectively – enhancing their productivity, strenghtening bargaining power and access to markets, and increasing resilience to climate challenges.
IADAAM is committed to:
- Supporting farmers and rural stakeholders in organizing around shared goals
- Providing tailored training and advisory services to strengthen cooperative governance and management
- Facilitating access to legal and financial frameworks for cooperative development
- Promoting joint investments in infrastructure, inputs, processing, and marketing
- Encouraging the adoption of sustainable, climate-smart practices through collective action
We do not view cooperatives as short-term projects, but as long-term institutions that can foster trust, innovation, and inclusive growth across rural communities.
✅ Why this matters for smallholder farmers:
In Armenia, the majority of farmers are smallholders managing limited plots of land. These farmers often face challenges such as limited access to markets, credit, modern technologies, and extension services. By coming together through cooperatives, smallholders can pool resources, lower production costs, and increase their voice in decision-making processes – ultimately improving their livelihoods and economic security. Cooperatives can be a game-changer for unlocking opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach for individual farmers.
This approach is guided by the belief that cooperatives should serve as engines of inclusive development, placing people, sustainability, and shared prosperity at the center of agricultural progress.
Cooperatives for Sustainable Development means building structures that go beyond profit – structures that serve the community, protect the environment, and create a better future for generations to come.
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 AESA – Agriconsulting Europe SA, Avenue Consulting Group LLC, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium and aims to provide institutional support to the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia (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.