The project goal :
Enhancement of family farming with a view to ensure environmental protection and sustainability of family farmers to contribute to the International Year of Family Farming.
Activities:
- Trainings on awareness raising about less pesticide sustainable family farming
We have organized 2 trainings for villagers about sustainable, less pesticide farming where a lot of attention was paid to family farming. As in Armenia we have a lot of small family farms.
Family farms produce about 80 percent of the world’s food. Their prevalence and output mean they “are vital to the solution of the hunger problem” afflicting more than 800 million people, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva wrote in the introduction to FAO’s new State of Food and Agriculture 2014 report. – See more at: http://www.un.am/en/news/169#sthash.OQAxHXcX.dpuf
However, the higher productivity of land on family farms involves lower labor productivity, which perpetuates poverty and hinders development. Much of the world’s food production involves of unpaid labor by family members.
– See more at: http://www.un.am/en/news/169#sthash.OQAxHXcX.dpuf
All this Issues were highlighted during the seminars and the most attention was paid to raise the awareness of farmers about the importance of their role in production of food. They have been taught about methods of less pesticide sustainable agriculture, such as: prevention instead of control, crop rotation, bio pesticides, plant tinctures, and etc. They have started also to practice some of the methods.
- Dissemination of market information in ways accessible to family farmers
We have provided family farmers with information about all agricultural festivals and events where they can sell their products. We have also organized their participation in 3 different festivals /Odzun Agricultural Festival, Sustainable agriculture Festival, Christmas Market/and also provide them with an opportunity to sell their products without any payments /organizing mini fares in our office where other people working in a building got an opportunity to buy clean products/.
- Support for the promotion and marketing of agricultural products, including traditional, or local products
We have organized special seminar –discussions for villagers with marketing specialists to understand what is the most important that can help them to position their products in the market. What are strengths and weaknesses of local products? The main outputs were that they have to pay attention on special packaging, keeping the quality the same, volumes and delivery mechanisms.
- Support for formation of cooperatives and other types of farmers’ organizations, at national and local levels, helpful to family farms in terms of marketing power and input purchase
The RA Ministry of Agriculture, for the first time, greatly valued the role of farmer organizations and cooperatives in its strategic programs. In the list of measures on ensuring the implementation of the 2010-2020 sustainable rural and agricultural development in the Republic of Armenia, measures focusing promotion of establishment and development of agricultural cooperatives are addressed. We have organized a seminar with the expert on law on this issue, where he has delivered the whole concept and also the mechanisms of operation of cooperatives. A lot of attention was given to the advantages which the farmers will get such as stronger marketing positions, more sustainable quality and quantity of products.
- Organization of seminars about formation and operation of cooperatives and other types of farmers’ organizations as a pilot example in village Solak
A very nice and big event was organized with AWHHE NGO to celebrate the Rural Women’s International Day. The vice minister of Agriculture was opening the ceremony. It was a very nice event a real celebration for rural women, they were able to sell their products, participate in different contests organized for them. This event is also a very good tool for networking between different villages.
The agricultural exhibition-fair was organized on November 8, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. in the market of agro products adjacent to Mashtots Park, c. Yerevan. The event was dedicated to the United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women which is celebrated each year on October 15 to recognize the importance and value of rural women’s contribution to agriculture and rural development. The event was organized with the support of RA Ministry of Agriculture, within the framework of the project “International Year of Family Farming as a guaranty for development of rural communities” and “Women of Solak for Healthy Fruit All Year Round”. The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Makaryan. The event coincided with the visit of the Rhone-Alpes region’s leaders who participated in the event. It was very encouraging. The event was broadcasted by various TV channels. An article about the event was published in “AGROLRATU” newspaper.
- Empower female members of family farm households via celebration of the Rural Women’s International Day with AWHHE NGO
Publications:
The event celebration of international year of rural women was broadcasted by various TV channels. An article about the event was published in “AGROLRATU” newspaper and www.Vrkanish.am webpage.
Please see the link here: http://varkanish.am/news/23979
