ENPARD ‘Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia’ project organized workshop, entitled ‘Development perspectives of conservation agriculture in Armenia’ on August 1, 2016. Hafiz Muminjanov, the plant production and protection officer at Sub-regional office of Central Asia of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presented advantages of conservation agriculture as a response to global and regional challenges and adoption and promotion in Central Asia.

Ashot Harutyunyan, the Head of Plant Growing and plant protection department of RA Ministry of Agriculture, John Barker, the International Aid/Cooperation Officer at Delegation of the European Union to Armenia (EUD), Avetik Nersisyan, the FAO Agricultural Officer, representatives of Agricultural Marz Support Centers, Armenian National Agrarian University and scientific centers, as well as farmers from various marzes of Armenia participated in the workshop.  During the workshop Avetik Nersisyan presented activities, related to soil protection and management, carried out by FAO in the region, as well as the ‘Guide to Conservation Agriculture’ handbook. ‘Soil management is an important element of sustainable agriculture,’ mentioned Avetik Nersisyan. The workshop will be followed by the trip to demonstration fields in Spitak community of Lori marz, Arapi and Voghji communities of Shirak marz, showcasing conservation agriculture (no-till technology).

‘Adoption and wide application of conservation agriculture is a priority task for Armenia, taken the shortage of soil and water resources in the country. In this regard, application of no-till technology in the production of a number of crops is very prospective, which will lead to the prevention of soil degradation and efficient usage of available water resources,’ mentions Armen Zakaryan, ENPARD FAO agricultural expert.