From now on small farms in Armenia can benefit from Organic Agriculture Support Initiative (OASI) project

ArmInfo. From now on the  Organic Agriculture Support Initiative (OASI) project implemented by  the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with the EU co-financing will  be available for small farmer enterprises in Armenia, Coordinator of  the OASI program for small farms Hasmik Altunyan informed at today's  event attached to the launch of the first round of OASI program for  large and medium farms, which have been given certificates for  receiving grants. 

According to her within the program small farms will be provided with  assistance amounted to 10 thousand EUR each (financing includes  systems of drip irrigation, lightning protection systems, packaging  and labeling equipment, packing materials, electric driers, etc.).  Mandatory condition for participation is 3 years experience in  agriculture on the territory of Armenia, organic certificate or  intention to receive it. Representatives of small farms can submit  applications for participation in the program till October 24. 

At the same time Executive Director of Austrian Development Agency  Martin Ledolter made a speech at the event and expressed readiness to  continue cooperation with Armenia within OASI program. According to  him 17% of producers in Austria (nearly 20 thousand) are engaged in  organic agriculture, as a result of which 10% of the products  presented in the country's supermarkets are organic. "Austria is  among the top three leaders in the world in producing organic food  products", he stressed. In this light Ledolter expressed assurance  that in the nearest future this initiative will also play a great  role for Armenia in developing organic agriculture. 

OASI Project Manager David Muckenhuber in turn presented to 18  beneficiaries of the program (who were chosen out of 72 medium and  large farms) certificates for receiving grants, the total amount of  which exceeded 800 thousand EUR. 

To note, OASI program in Armenia is aimed at developing organic  agriculture and at contributing to successful sale of Armenia's  organic products both on domestic and foreign markets. The total  budget of the program is 3.3 mln EUR. Since 1992 EU has provided  assistance to Armenia amounted to 500 mln EUR.