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Armenian Technology Group, Inc
1300 E. Shaw Ave. Suite 131
P. O. Box 5969
Fresno, California 93755
Contact Person: Varoujan Der Simonian
Tel: 559-224-1000
Fax: 559-224-1002
www.atgusa.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 19, 2009
ATG Continues to Empower the People of Armenia
On this 20th anniversary of serving the people of Armenia and Artsakh,
the Fresno, California based Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG) is
introducing new and more efficient Conservation Agricultural practices
to Armenia by empowering the farmers with knowledge and technology and
encouraging them to adopt those farming practices and help them
produce profitably.
ATG devoted nearly 12 years to develop a sustainable seed production
industry in Armenia. The project has left its mark on the nation's
economy by increasing local production of cereals and reducing
dependence on foreign imports.
`We took a ground-up approach by training and teaching the farmers how
to produce and maintain high quality and high yielding crops year
after year' said the ATG outgoing President Nubar Tashjian, JD of
Oakland, California.
Sustainable wheat and other seed production programs, such as barley
and alfalfa, require a natural life-cycle of seven growing seasons
whereby seed producing farmers, grain growers, milling companies,
bakers, and consumers can interact in a sustainable free market
structure.
`Farmers who we trained to grow quality seeds and grains over the
years are running successful operations now. They know what they are
doing and they need a minimum of our help.' said Gagik Mkrchyan,
Director of Armenia-based ATG Foundation. The USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service has been one of the major sponsors of this long
running program.
`We achieved our goal by transferring knowledge and technology
directly to the farmers, meanwhile establishing a natural market
structure based on supply and demand between the growers and the
consumers. This is an industry that not only can sustain itself behind
our involvement, but will continue to have a positive impact on the
country's trade balance.=80=9D added Mr. Tashjian.
ATG's efforts for the next few years will be focused on expanding the
conservation agriculture systems technologies in Armenia to reverse
the long-standing trend of soil degradation by rebuilding soil
productivity - increasing soil organic matters and improving soil
structure, quality and health.
`We are excited with this project. Our goal is to optimize yield
potential while minimizing negative impacts to the environment' said
Dr. James P. Reynolds, the newly elected President of ATG from his
home town of Visalia, California.
ATG technical advisers will help the farmers in Armenia to adapt
conservation agricultural system technology and practice the following
objectives: a) minimize mechanical soil disturbance, which will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, soil compaction and the potential for soil
erosion, along with minimizing the disruption of soil biological
cycles; b) maintain a crop or crop residue cover on the soil surface
year round;
c) maximize the amount of crop residues on the soil surface throughout
the year, and d) stimulate biological activity through crop rotation
diversity, cover crops and integrated nutrient and pest management.
During the 2008-2009 fall and spring planting season, ATG introduced
the conservation farming system to seven different geographical
locations. These farms are being used as field demonstration sites to
disseminate information on the use and benefits of conservation
agriculture systems technology to the farmers. This technology was
highlighted in the cover article `The Quiet (Farming) Revolution' in
the July, 2008 issue of Scientific American.
`This project is being funded by private contributions, and I would
like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to
our partners and sponsors for helping ATG assist the farmers and their
families over the years. Particularly I would like to thank The Lincy
Foundation, for their continuous support for this and for our previous
economic development programs in Armenia. Not only is their support of
our mission helping feed the people of Armenia, but it is also
creating employment and generated income.' concluded Dr. Reynolds.
Tex deductible contributions in support of conservation agriculture in
Armenia could be mailed to ATG at P. O. Box 5969; Fresno, CA 93755
1300 E. Shaw Ave. Suite 131
P. O. Box 5969
Fresno, California 93755
Contact Person: Varoujan Der Simonian
Tel: 559-224-1000
Fax: 559-224-1002
www.atgusa.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 19, 2009
ATG Continues to Empower the People of Armenia
On this 20th anniversary of serving the people of Armenia and Artsakh,
the Fresno, California based Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG) is
introducing new and more efficient Conservation Agricultural practices
to Armenia by empowering the farmers with knowledge and technology and
encouraging them to adopt those farming practices and help them
produce profitably.
ATG devoted nearly 12 years to develop a sustainable seed production
industry in Armenia. The project has left its mark on the nation's
economy by increasing local production of cereals and reducing
dependence on foreign imports.
`We took a ground-up approach by training and teaching the farmers how
to produce and maintain high quality and high yielding crops year
after year' said the ATG outgoing President Nubar Tashjian, JD of
Oakland, California.
Sustainable wheat and other seed production programs, such as barley
and alfalfa, require a natural life-cycle of seven growing seasons
whereby seed producing farmers, grain growers, milling companies,
bakers, and consumers can interact in a sustainable free market
structure.
`Farmers who we trained to grow quality seeds and grains over the
years are running successful operations now. They know what they are
doing and they need a minimum of our help.' said Gagik Mkrchyan,
Director of Armenia-based ATG Foundation. The USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service has been one of the major sponsors of this long
running program.
`We achieved our goal by transferring knowledge and technology
directly to the farmers, meanwhile establishing a natural market
structure based on supply and demand between the growers and the
consumers. This is an industry that not only can sustain itself behind
our involvement, but will continue to have a positive impact on the
country's trade balance.=80=9D added Mr. Tashjian.
ATG's efforts for the next few years will be focused on expanding the
conservation agriculture systems technologies in Armenia to reverse
the long-standing trend of soil degradation by rebuilding soil
productivity - increasing soil organic matters and improving soil
structure, quality and health.
`We are excited with this project. Our goal is to optimize yield
potential while minimizing negative impacts to the environment' said
Dr. James P. Reynolds, the newly elected President of ATG from his
home town of Visalia, California.
ATG technical advisers will help the farmers in Armenia to adapt
conservation agricultural system technology and practice the following
objectives: a) minimize mechanical soil disturbance, which will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, soil compaction and the potential for soil
erosion, along with minimizing the disruption of soil biological
cycles; b) maintain a crop or crop residue cover on the soil surface
year round;
c) maximize the amount of crop residues on the soil surface throughout
the year, and d) stimulate biological activity through crop rotation
diversity, cover crops and integrated nutrient and pest management.
During the 2008-2009 fall and spring planting season, ATG introduced
the conservation farming system to seven different geographical
locations. These farms are being used as field demonstration sites to
disseminate information on the use and benefits of conservation
agriculture systems technology to the farmers. This technology was
highlighted in the cover article `The Quiet (Farming) Revolution' in
the July, 2008 issue of Scientific American.
`This project is being funded by private contributions, and I would
like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to
our partners and sponsors for helping ATG assist the farmers and their
families over the years. Particularly I would like to thank The Lincy
Foundation, for their continuous support for this and for our previous
economic development programs in Armenia. Not only is their support of
our mission helping feed the people of Armenia, but it is also
creating employment and generated income.' concluded Dr. Reynolds.
Tex deductible contributions in support of conservation agriculture in
Armenia could be mailed to ATG at P. O. Box 5969; Fresno, CA 93755