North-West Agricultural Services Project

North-West Agricultural Services Project

The provinces of Sjirak, Lory and Aragatzotn are among the poorest regions in the country, and it was here that IFAD initiated this project with the aim of improving the living conditions and food security of the rural population. The project involved the private sector in developing agriculture in those regions on a sustainable basis.

To increase production, the project fostered crop and livestock development and private production and distribution of improved, certified seed. It supported rehabilitation of existing irrigation infrastructure and on-farm water management over an area of about 7,000 ha. It strengthened water users’ associations so they could take responsibility for operating and maintaining local irrigation systems. Through the Agricultural Cooperative Bank of Armenia (ACBA) the project provided short-term credit to about 10,000 men and women farmers who are members of project-promoted village associations. The grass-roots organizations involved in the project had a role in its successful

implementation and in the implementation of later projects.

Source: IFAD