ArmInfo.Within the framework of the "State Assistance Program for the Creation of Small and Medium Greenhouse Farms", educational courses have been launched, which are taught by specialists from the International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE).
Irina Panosyan, Head of the department for developing agricultural programs, using resources and developing cooperation of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, briefly presented the main provisions of the courses. According to her, the Ministry has already received 46 applications for participation in the program from all regions of Armenia, and among the participants there are many beginning farmers.
The educational course will last 12 days. During 10 days of theoretical classes, ICARE Foundation specialists will teach future farmers the basics of operating earthen and hydroponic greenhouses, technologies for growing crops and plants. An additional 2 days is designed for practical training, in which the participants on the ground will get acquainted with the activities of the current greenhouse farms, with the management system of greenhouses and growing cultivated plants in greenhouse conditions.
The ICARE Foundation for conducting educational courses was chosen due to the rich experience of specialists in teaching in the field of greenhouse farming. "In this program, we focused on the construction and operation of small and medium greenhouses, since the main goal of our strategy is small and medium- sized farms," Panosyan noted. In addition, she added that these courses are not only educational, but also aim to create contacts between farmers.
It should be noted that in Armenia the development of greenhouse farms is one of the priorities of the agricultural sector. For this purpose, the financial sector of the country receives low-cost funding, which allows to expand access to loans from farmers who want to join the greenhouse business.