G. Khachatrian: Cooperatives already operate in 55 rural communities

Director of the Agricultural Program Implementation Bureau of RA Ministry of Agriculture Gagik Khachatrian today informed reporters about the results of the Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness Project launched in 2011.

The project is implemented in 55 communities of 6 Armenian provinces (Aragatsotn, Lori, Shirak, Tavush, Gegharkunik, and Syunik provinces). The total cost of the project is $21.3 million, $16 million of which was provided by the World Bank, $3.5 million by the Armenian government and $1.8 million by beneficiaries.

The program aims to assist mountainous and border communities where agriculture is the main source of income. Such communities are interested in raising the quality of pastures and creating an efficient and stable animal produce system. Besides, it is planned to assist with the establishment of cooperatives of stock-breeders and the introduction of innovation technology by means of advisory services.

Khachatrian stressed that the creation of cooperatives is one of the priority goals. ‘The problems facing communities can be solved only by joint efforts,” he said.

According to him, thanks to work done and discussions with farmers, consumer cooperatives have already been set up in 55 communities.” In the past 20-25 years people got out of the habit of working jointly,” he noted. In the words of ministry official, meat and milk production by farms will grow 15-20% as a result of the project’s implementation.

In his words, the project has already given good results in some communities, particularly in Vardadzor and Dzoraghyugh where milk production increased by 50% and livestock grew by 28-48%.