Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch visited 6 USDA/CARD projects located in different marzes during the period September - October, 2009. Specifically she visited Tavush Agricultural Support Center, VAN 777 winery, ARID goat center, Getnatun winery and Ashotsk cheese plant.
Demonstration Plot for New Grape Varieties in Tavush Marz
In 2005 USDA/CARD provided 6 world famous grape varieties to Tavush marz Agricultural Support Center for implementing demonstration project for comparative study and dissemination of new grape varieties. Tavush Marz was selected for the project as the region is phylloxera infected. In total 3000 rootstocks were imported of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noire, Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties from France. Parallel to this project, in 2006 USDA/CARD implemented a drip irrigation system in the same vineyard, aiming to convert the nursery into a demonstration and experimental vineyard for the region. ACDI/VOCA through MCC funding helped Agricultural Support Center to renovate the pipeline for irrigating the vineyard as well as expended the varieties of the nursery.
Agritoursim at VAN 777 winery
VAN 777 Ltd is a small winery in Taperakan Village, Ararat marz. The history of the winery started with the purchase of abandoned, marshy land in 1995. The construction started with $5000 initial grant from USDA. USDA provided the winery with loans and leases for the purchase of the grape from about 100 farmers, as well as for acquisition of production line, bottles from Italy, tanks and semiautomatic filling and corking machines. In addition, USDA/CARD provided technical support with promotion of the wines, Agritoursim activities and quality improvement through trainings and consultation provided by invited foreign experts. Currently Van 777 cooperates with more than 150 farmers of Taperakan and the neighboring villages whereas it started with purchase of only 50 tons of grapes per year.
ARID Goat Breeding Center
ARID Goat Breeding Center, located in Vayots Dzor marz, was established within the framework of Goat Industry Development Project in 1999 by CARD’s predecessor, the USDA Marketing Assistance Project with the objective to create independent and economically viable means of dairy goat production. ARID Goat Breeding Center is cooperating with hundreds of rural farmers throughout Armenia. ARID Center is providing technical assistance to farmers, agribusinesses and students of agriculture. Technical assistance relates to proper nutrition, proper milking procedures, genetic improvement, animal health and disease prevention. The Center is also collaborating and supporting the Goat cheese producers located throughout Armenia.
Young Farmers’ Group
On 26 August, Ambassador Yovanovich and other guests from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, CARD Foundation and AGBU visited Jrahovit village of Ararat marz and met Young Farmers’ Group at the sweet corn field. They tasted sweet corn grown by young farmers and discussed the advantages of the “Sweet Corn” project with the youth. Organization of Young Farmers’ Groups is the new initiative of CARD Foundation in collaboration with AGBU Young Professionals Group. Many young people can’t find appropriate and interesting jobs in their communities after completing their studies or returning from army. This is one of the reasons why some of them leave their native villages and find a job elsewhere. After the Young Farmers Group was organized, the trainings were conducted on technology of growing Sweet Corn. The idea of the project was to educate young people on principles of farming, high value crop cultivation, harvesting and marketing.
Getnatun Winery
Getnatun winery was established in 2000 with the output of 1000 bottles of dry red wine. Today Getnatun winery, known as a leading high quality wine producer in Armenia, offers different kinds of wines: dry red and white, semi-dry and semi-sweet. Since 2007 the winery has started to export to Russia and had a big demand in the market before the financial crisis.
Getnatun winery received various types of marketing, technical and financial assistance from USDA / CARD Foundation in different areas including: food safety, advanced production technologies related to processing, storing, new product development, packaging and marketing. Combination of loans, in-kind loans and equipment leasing were provided for covering its operational expenses, mainly for making timely payments to farmers for the supplied grapes. CARD and CARD AgroCredit are supporting the company with affordable loans to purchase grapes from farmers, as well as to develop agro-tourism capacities.
Ashotsk Cheese Plant OJSC
The plant started operations in 1973 with production of 50 tons of milk per day. As a result of secession from the Soviet Union and the entailing crisis of the industry, the plant lost its capacity and was operating only at a partial capacity. In 1998, it was a fully renovated production of Armenian cheese type; it is designed for European cheese production as well.
USDA/ CARD have provided technical and financial support since 1998 which include:
1. Loans for purchasing milk from farmers
2.Support with Emmental cheese production and marketing in Armenia and Russia
3.Introduction of ph meters, milk analyzers for cheese quality improvement
4.Introduction of high quality ingredients and molds for cheese production
5.Assistance received from USDA/Agroleasing was for the purchase of refrigerating truck for collecting milk from villages 6.Assistance received from USDA/Agroleasing was for the purchase of filling and packaging equipment
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