Armenia and IFAD will develop a short-term and long-term strategy for the development of agricultural production in the country

ArmInfo. Armenia intends to  propose to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)  program proposals for further development of cooperation. Details of  these proposals were presented by the Minister of Agriculture of  Armenia Ignat Arakelyan during the meeting on January 31 with the  head of IFAD programs for North Africa and Europe Rami Salman.

As the press service of the ministry reports, at the beginning of the  meeting the Minister of Agriculture briefly presented his vision of  the further development of agriculture in Armenia. At present, such  priorities as the promotion of small and medium-sized business in the  countryside, the establishment of centers for processing agricultural  products and refrigeration facilities, as well as milk processing  centers, the foundation of greenhouse farms to increase production  and export of domestic products. 

Speaking about the assistance programs implemented by the Government  of the Republic of Armenia, Ignat Arakelyan noted that currently one  of the objectives of the executive body is to assist small farms,  which will make it possible to increase their incomes. At the same  time, the minister pointed out the importance of training  professional personnel and developing business programs in the  agrarian sphere in the communities.

Romi Salman, in his turn, noted that IFAD is ready for discussions,  development and implementation of new programs jointly with the RA  Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector, which will be in tune  with today's priorities.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached to create in the near  future a working group, which will include representatives of the  Ministry of Agriculture, the private sector and IFAD. The main task  of the group will be the development of the short-term (2019-2020)  and long-term (2019-2024) strategies for the development of  agricultural production in Armenia.