SEED DISTRIBUTION IN ARMENIA TO DOUBLE HARVEST AND INCOME GENERATION

Reuters, UK
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
Oct 31 2007

Farmers’ income is expected to double next year thanks to high quality
seeds recently distributed by World Vision in 10 rural communities in
Aragatsotn region, 75 km northwest of Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.

‘Having a high quality wheat seed is very important for my family,
because with these new seeds we can double our yield, thus generating
more income for my eight-member family,’ says Arman Petrossyan, 39,
from Tsamaqasar village.

World Vision distributed 300 kg of high quality seeds per hectare of
land to 27 community members with the projected forecast of doubling
wheat production in August, reaping 2,000 to 3,000 kg of wheat harvest
per hectare. Approximately 45 hectares of land will be covered by
the project.

World Vision also provided the beneficiaries with fertilizers to spur
the growth of the particular type of wheat distributed.

Community members received training sessions on agricultural techniques
of cereal production and management of the seed bank.

After next year’s harvest, farmers who received the seed will donate
to some 50 other community members 450 kg of seed per hectare as a
result of a signed agreement between them.

‘The agreement enables villagers to guarantee the spread of the high
quality seeds throughout the region,’ explains Arthur Navasardyan,
Talin Area Development Program Coordinator of World Vision Armenia.

The distribution is the first time high quality seed has been
introduced to the communities of Aragatsotn, Armenia’s primary wheat
producing region. The region’s wheat seed bank has not been improved
for nearly 20 years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress