‘ASHTARAK – KAT’ TO USE DIARY FARMERS OF TAVUSH REGION

ArmInfo
2008-08-22 12:41:00

ArmInfo. Three milk collection centers have been established in
Varagavan, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and Tovuz Rural Communities of Tavush
marz, Armenia. Implementing partners are United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development
(CARD), rural municipalities, Ashtarak-Kat CJSC.

As Arminfo was informed from UNDP, project goal is to assist dairy
farmers from Varagavan, Tovuz and Nerkin Karmiraghbyur as well as from
around 10 neighboring rural communities of Tavush marz through the
establishment of locally based milk collection and marketing units
and thus to contribute to the sustainable growth of the marz.

As part of this one-year project milk collection centers were
established in Varagavan, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and Tovuz rural
communities of Tavush marz. With support from UNDP the respective
buildings provided by the rural municipalities were fully renovated
and two trucks were purchased to organize daily milk collection in
the communities. From its part, CARD provided contemporary cooling
and testing equipment which was installed in each center. To organize
and supervise the work of the milk collection centers three local
milk marketing cooperatives were created titled Varagavan, Vardashen
and Tavush.

The project was identified and prioritized by all the three communities
and subsequently carried out as a result of the application of
performance-based budgeting model at the local level. UNDP has been
working with these and other Armenian communities to introduce
the new budgeting methodology through its Performance Budgeting
Project. Performance budgeting provides for a higher level quality
management of community resources and also for participatory budget
planning and execution.

In compliance with the signed Memorandum of Understanding, Ashtarak-Kat
private dairy producing enterprise will purchase the milk produced
and collected in the communities on a daily basis. The company will
also deliver on-spot consultations on improving of milk quality and
maintenance of sanitary-hygiene standards.