A €10-million program to stimulate irrigated agriculture in Armenia, implemented by the French Development Agency, can be the most important key to increasing agricultural productivity by improving the skills of Armenian farmers, Armenian Economy Minister Tigran Khachatryan said Friday as he met with French Ambassador to Armenia Jonathan Lakot.
“The innovative technologies and knowledge that should be transferred to our farmers are the key to increasing agricultural productivity. It is also a great opportunity to solve the problem of small economies,” the minister said.
In his turn, the ambassador said that the program is the largest French project currently being implemented.
According to the press service of the ministry of economy, the parties also discussed the implementation of other major investment projects in Armenia and outlined prospects for the future.
Khachatryan said the success of the programs will contribute to the further rapprochement of the economies of the two countries. He assured that Armenia remains steadfast in its determination to fulfill its obligations.
The ambassador, in turn, assured that the expected entry of big French brands into the Armenian market will also change the attitude of the French investment community towards the country.
The Armenian government approved the proposal to sign a financial agreement of 10 million euros with the French Development Agency on October 17, 2019. In accordance with the agreement, the French side provides the government with a grant of 10 million euros, 8.5 million of which will be transferred to the ministry of economy, and 1.5 million to the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures.
Thanks to the funds transferred to the account of the ministry of territorial administration and infrastructures, a project for the development of irrigated agriculture in the Armavir and Ararat regions is being implemented. Its aim is to provide more sustainable and effective agricultural solutions, build up capacity, assist in the creation and develop cooperatives, as well as provide consulting and expand access to financial services.
As a result of the project, the infrastructure on 2,000 hectares of land is planned to be modernized, 20 industrial cooperatives and farming groups will be supported and 10 land consolidation measures will be implemented.
