Armenian Technology Group, Inc.
1300 East Shaw Ave. Suite 131 ; P. O. Box 5969; Fresno CA, 93755
Tel: 559-224-1000; Fax 559-224-1002; Web Site:
PRESS RELEASE
Date: November 7, 2006
Contact Person: Lucille Gahvejian
For Immediate Release Tel: 559-224-1000
"I Am Impressed!"
Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokyan and
Governor of Shirak, Romig Manougyan
Visit ATG Wheat Seed Farms
Yerevan, Armenia – "I am impressed how ATG is helping our farmers
establish a strong private sector seed industry in Armenia," said
Davit Lokyan the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture during his recently
visit to the Armenian Technology Group (ATG) wheat field trial plots
in Karnut village near Gyumri. Mr. Lokiyan was accompanied with the
Governor of Shirak Marz, Mr. Romig Manougyan, Deputy Ag Minister
Samvel Avedisyan and Mr. Garnik Petrosyan, Head of the Department of
Agronomy at the Ministry of Agriculture. Joining them were
representatives from the UN, World Bank and other institutions.
The purpose of Mr. Lokyan’s visit was to witness first hand one of the
14 wheat seed production sites around the country that ATG and its
Seed Producers Association farmers have set up their trial
plots. There are up to 30 different new and improved seed varieties
being tested in each of these locations. Others are locations in areas
such as Ararat, Sissian, Armavir, Kotayk, and Tavoush
regions. Minister Lokyan and his entourage were impressed by the trial
plots in Karnut village near Gyumri.
"I have not seen such an organized scientific research conducted on
seed production anywhere in the Republic. It is marvelous!" said
Mr. Lokyan while visiting the seed trial plots and production farm of
ATG farmer Hovhanness Galoyan, who was the recipient of a Gold Medal
during the latest International AgroForum Conference, for his
accomplishments.
The purpose of these trial plots are to research and identify higher
yielding and rust resistant new seed varieties with minimum input, and
after going through extensive cultural adaptation process make them
available to the farmers.
These are on-going technical practices that were transferred to the
local farmers by series of long time ATG technical farm advisories
from the United States, some of whom were stationed in Armenia for
over 12 years! Since the start of the wheat seed program in 1992, ATG
and its farmers have tested over 400 wheat, barley, alfalfa and corn
varieties, and selected the best yielding seeds for the Armenian
farmers.
The program is now totally being administered by the local team of
agronomists headed by Gagik Mkerchyan, a 13-year veteran of ATG in
Armenia and the director of the SPSA, along with his assistants,
agronomist Vaghinag Kamrastyan and Mekhitar Grigoryan have been
overseeing the wheat seed program that ATG transferred to them.
"I am so proud of Gaigk and the work that he is continuing with his
farmers" said Roger Culver, ATG technical advisor and six year
in-country director in Armenia, from his home in Oregon. "He not only
mastered the western knowledge and farming practices that we transfer
to them, but he and his colleagues are training other farmers to
maintain the highest standard and quality control of seed production
in Armenia. We thank the Lord for provided us with such dedicated
individuals."
"Our goal has been to train and enable the farmers to help increase
their farm production and feed their families" said Varoujan Der
Simonian, Executive Director of ATG. The program inspired the farmers
and gave them hope. It increased production and saved rural Armenia
from starvation during the early years of the Republic. The project
created thousands of jobs, and generated income that otherwise would
not have been possible. "ATG is thankful to all those who continue to
contribute to our mission."
The ATG Seed Multiplication Project has been funded through USDA
Foreign Agricultural Service – Food for Progress, The Lincy
Foundation, The Bertha and John Garabedian Charitable Foundation,
Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, organizations and individuals
in the United States.
The Armenian Technology Group, Inc. is a California based non-profit,
public benefit corporation with offices in Fresno, CA, Yerevan,
Armenia and Stepanakerd, Artsakh. Tax deductible donations could be
mailed to ATG 1300 E. Shaw Ave. Suite #131; P.O. Box 5969, Fresno, CA
93755. You can also visit the ATG web site at and
donate on line.
Rural Armenia News Service
Brought to you by ATG, Inc.
(Armenian Technology Group)
For more information about how you can help rural Armenia,
contact ATG at info@atgusa.org