The national digital agriculture strategy for Armenia is on its way, with FAO support

Online consultation helps working group members discuss further steps and share opinion

Yerevan, Armenia – An online consultation of the Ministry of Economy and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), held today, marks another step in the development of a national digital agriculture strategy for Armenia.

The meeting aimed to introduce the digital agriculture framework, key findings of the situational analysis, and discuss and validate the priorities of the digital agriculture strategy.

Participants included Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan, Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Stephan Tsaturyan, FAO Representative in Armenia Raimund Jehle, FAO local and international experts, as well as the members of the working group – 30 people altogether.

The success of digital transformation requires active involvement and collaboration of many different parties. While digital transformation is predominantly used in a business context by large international companies, it also impacts other organizations such as governments, public sector agencies and entities, which are involved in tackling societal challenges such as rural livelihood, youth unemployment and agrifood entrepreneurs, by leveraging one or more of these existing and emerging digital technologies.

At the farm level, digital agriculture has the potential to contribute to a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable agriculture and meet the agricultural goals of a country.

FAO is committed to support its member countries in transforming agriculture through the adoption of digital technologies and innovation. Also, FAO supports the implementation of strategies, provides advices and guidelines, as well as supports in the process of the digital agriculture transformation at national level. Currently, FAO is helping Armenia transform its agriculture sector.

“Having a national digital agriculture strategy can help Armenia increase food production, establish incentives and facilitate the development of digital technologies for the agrifood sector. It can be used to promote new markets, strengthen social protection, decentralize trade and serve as a driver for digital agricultural innovation,” said Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Armenia. “The digital agriculture strategy can pave the way for policy options to bridge the digital divide in rural areas, and ensure equal prospects for rural men and women, young and old, in accessing digital tools – quickening the pace of innovations, increasing incomes and job opportunities,” added Jehle.

The present COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that those who remained connected could continue working up to some extent, while those confronted with the rural digital divide had difficulties to keep their activities at level.

It was agreed to have similar discussions this month to further finalize the objectives and the action plan of the strategy. Meantime, the members of the advisory group committed to provide feedback on the needs assessment report, the priorities and vision as well as participate in the online discussion through other social platforms on 14 May.