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BOOSTING ARMENIAN AGRICULTURE
Kansas City infoZine
June 25 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 :: Staff infoZine
For the women and men living in Armenia's rural communities,
agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihoods.
Washington DC - infoZine - The World Bank Board of Executive
Directors approved a US$ 32.67 million financing for the Second
Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness
(CARMAC) Project for Armenia. This Project is designed to improve
productivity and sustainability of pasture and livestock systems in
up to 100 communities in eight regions of Armenia with significant
pasture areas and increase the marketed production from selected
livestock and high value agri-food value chains.
For the women and men living in Armenia's rural communities,
agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihoods.
Thus, developing farmers' productivity, including through cooperatives
and associations, and strengthening the links between agricultural
producers and the food processing industry are critical. The project
will help address key constraints by improving market access,
supporting the commercialization process, and enhancing employment
opportunities while protecting the natural environment. The second
CARMAC expands the scope of the first project, notably its successful
pasture-based livestock activities, to include a new value chain
component linking livestock and other agriculture production with
markets.
Map of World Bank Armenian Projects "Enhancing productivity and
strengthening market access of farmers are key to reducing poverty
and boosting shared prosperity in rural areas" says Jean-Michel Happi,
World Bank Country Manager for Armenia.
"Project activities are devised in such a way as to mainly benefit
pasture users, farmer cooperatives, as well as food business
operators. At least 50,000 farmers are expected to participate in this
project through their membership in Pasture Users' Cooperatives (PUC)."
The proposed project will further implement an efficient and
sustainable community managed pasture based livestock production
and include new communities exhibiting a strong interest, adding to
the already existing 86 communities covered by the on-going CARMAC
project. Pasture users cooperatives will be established in about 100
communities, which will be the key players in developing sustainable
pasture/livestock management plans and receiving grant resources
of about US$ 200,000 per PUC for their implementation. Funding may
include financing of infrastructure to access and use remote pastures,
milk collection points with cooling equipment, machinery to produce
and harvest fodder, and other activities of community importance.
"I would highlight the long-term benefits of value chain development
for the efficiency of agricultural output," says Nicolas Ahouissoussi,
World Bank Task Team Leader of the project. "The project will support
agricultural producers and processors to improve the ability to meet
domestic demand and access international markets, building on the
competitive advantages of the Armenian market."
Support programs for women and youth are planned to enhance their
participation in the PUCs along with their communal decision-making
process around pasture management. Along with other activities,
the project pays special attention and will contribute to increasing
the capacity of public sector institutions, such as regional-level
Veterinary Service Centers and State Service for Food Safety, to
facilitate business development and enable market access in the
selected value chains.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/59216/
Kansas City infoZine
June 25 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 :: Staff infoZine
For the women and men living in Armenia's rural communities,
agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihoods.
Washington DC - infoZine - The World Bank Board of Executive
Directors approved a US$ 32.67 million financing for the Second
Community Agricultural Resource Management and Competitiveness
(CARMAC) Project for Armenia. This Project is designed to improve
productivity and sustainability of pasture and livestock systems in
up to 100 communities in eight regions of Armenia with significant
pasture areas and increase the marketed production from selected
livestock and high value agri-food value chains.
For the women and men living in Armenia's rural communities,
agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihoods.
Thus, developing farmers' productivity, including through cooperatives
and associations, and strengthening the links between agricultural
producers and the food processing industry are critical. The project
will help address key constraints by improving market access,
supporting the commercialization process, and enhancing employment
opportunities while protecting the natural environment. The second
CARMAC expands the scope of the first project, notably its successful
pasture-based livestock activities, to include a new value chain
component linking livestock and other agriculture production with
markets.
Map of World Bank Armenian Projects "Enhancing productivity and
strengthening market access of farmers are key to reducing poverty
and boosting shared prosperity in rural areas" says Jean-Michel Happi,
World Bank Country Manager for Armenia.
"Project activities are devised in such a way as to mainly benefit
pasture users, farmer cooperatives, as well as food business
operators. At least 50,000 farmers are expected to participate in this
project through their membership in Pasture Users' Cooperatives (PUC)."
The proposed project will further implement an efficient and
sustainable community managed pasture based livestock production
and include new communities exhibiting a strong interest, adding to
the already existing 86 communities covered by the on-going CARMAC
project. Pasture users cooperatives will be established in about 100
communities, which will be the key players in developing sustainable
pasture/livestock management plans and receiving grant resources
of about US$ 200,000 per PUC for their implementation. Funding may
include financing of infrastructure to access and use remote pastures,
milk collection points with cooling equipment, machinery to produce
and harvest fodder, and other activities of community importance.
"I would highlight the long-term benefits of value chain development
for the efficiency of agricultural output," says Nicolas Ahouissoussi,
World Bank Task Team Leader of the project. "The project will support
agricultural producers and processors to improve the ability to meet
domestic demand and access international markets, building on the
competitive advantages of the Armenian market."
Support programs for women and youth are planned to enhance their
participation in the PUCs along with their communal decision-making
process around pasture management. Along with other activities,
the project pays special attention and will contribute to increasing
the capacity of public sector institutions, such as regional-level
Veterinary Service Centers and State Service for Food Safety, to
facilitate business development and enable market access in the
selected value chains.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/59216/