Within the framework of the “Modernizing Vocational Education and Training in Agriculture in Armenia” (MAVETA) project, a four-day training titled “Innovative Orcharding” was held in the Armavir community from July 8 to 11. The training was designed for forcibly displaced persons from Artsakh who have resettled in the Armavir region.
The training was conducted by Eteri Stepanyan, a lecturer at the Armenian National Agrarian University.
During the four-day training, participants were introduced to the basics of the orcharding. They were engaged in interactive discussions on a variety of topics, including site selection for orchards, soil fertilization, and the specifics of pruning in both intensive and traditional orchards. The training also addressed the current state of fruit growing practices in Armenia, different fruit varieties and their cultivation methods, as well as nursery operations—from establishment to management.
Special emphasis was placed on the challenges facing the sector, potential solutions, and the future prospects for its development.
The primary objective of the training was to equip participants with up-to-date knowledge and to develop the essential skills needed to actively engage in the field.
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).