Farm Service Center established in Armenia’s Armavir province

Farm Service Center established in Armenia’s Armavir province

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD) Foundation has established a Farm Service Center in Norapat community of Armavir province, within the framework of the USAID-funded Partnerships for Rural Prosperity (PRP) program.

The specialized center will focus on the development of the horticulture (garden cultivation and management) sector in Armenia and will promote advanced techniques and practices of farm business development.

The official launch ceremony of the Farm Service Center (FSC) was held on Tuesday, May 12, with the participation of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills, Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations Vaché

Terteryan, and Governor of Armavir Ashot Ghahramanyan, as well as representatives of USAID, CARD, and the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center of Armenia, whichimplements the PRP program.

The new center will provide a package of services to local farmers and link them with international companies that provide supplies, equipment, and information on new technologies for horticultural management. The center will be equipped with up-to-date laboratory equipment for soil, water, and plant analysis, and will facilitate market linkages and access to finance for Armenian farmers and rural small and medium size enterprises.

In addition, the FSC will host workshops and training programs by Armenian and foreign experts for more than 2,500 local farmers from 25 communities in Armavir. The center will also serve as a venue for hands-on seminars for the students of the Armenian National Agrarian University.

PRP is a five-year program, launched in August 2013 and funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The project aims to empower rural communities with economic growth perspectives through helping them identify opportunities for economic value creation based on recognition of their competitive advantages, arming them with entrepreneurial skills; improving access to finance and markets; facilitating infrastructure upgrade; equipping the communities with appropriate skills and tools to protect environment; and expanding employment prospects for women and youth. The PRP is implemented by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center (SME DNC) of Armenia in partnership with CARD, EV Consulting and Gegharkunik CCI.

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