On March 3-4 in Yenokavan village and Vanadzor town conferences were held on “Development of Organic Farming as a Contribution to the Protection of Biodiversity and Poverty Alleviation in Northern Armenia” aimed at informing the public about the project, getting acquainted with the organizers, presenting the benefits and opportunities.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Branch of German Nature Protection Union (NABU) in the Republic of Armenia and will be implemented by Bezoar and Eco-Globe local environmental NGOs.
The goal of the project is to create sustainable agriculture and develop organic farming in Armenia, to assist farmers in exporting local produce and present at international exhibitions in the fight against poverty and biodiversity in northern Armenia.
The project consists of 4 components:
• Conservation of biodiversity and natural resources
• Creation and support of cooperatives
• Organic certification
• Market Access Support
32 villages of Tavush, Gegharkunik and Lori regions were selected as part of the project. The village heads and interested farmers of those villages were invited to participate in the conferences. The number of participants was more than 170.
Hayk Chobanyan (Governor of Tavush), Robert Ghukasyan (Advisor to the Prime Minister for Rural Development) and Narek Grigoryan (Head of the Armenian branch of the German Nature Protection Union (NABU)) were also invited to speak at the conference.
The organizers talked about the program. There were also reports on the biodiversity of northern Armenia, organic farming and its potential, the conditions for cooperatives and the economics of ecosystems.
In the future, meetings and seminars will be organized with farmers in selected villages.
Project organizers:
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
German Nature Protection Union (NABU)
Project implementers:
Bezoar NGO
