Director of Center for Agricultural Research and Certification:   problem with agricultural productivity and yield is still relevant in  Armenia

ArmInfo.We can use industrial agriculture, but in parallel we should develop those areas that will  not lead to long-term negative consequences in terms of impact on the environment, public health, etc.

Director of the Center for Agricultural Research and Certification  David Babayan noted in a conversation with an ArmInfo correspondent  on May 29 on the sidelines of the FAO (UN Food and Agriculture  Organization) Regional Conference: Advancing on green policies for  agrifood systems transformation in Europe and Central Asia.

In this context, Babayan noted that numerous programs aimed at  developing green agriculture were carried out in Armenia, and in  certain cases there were positive results and successes. But in  general, as the expert further noted, the problem with agricultural  productivity and yield is still relevant.  "It is not the case that  not all farmers are ready to use green technologies in their  activities. we have success stories. But still, most farms are moving  forward without applying green agriculture approaches," he said.   Babayan attached importance in this regard to consulting farmers,  which will help them make decisions that will improve productivity.   The main objective of the FAO conference is to enhance knowledge  sharing and capacity building in green agriculture in the Europe and  Central Asia region. In addition, the project aims to build  well-functioning professional networks that unlock the potential of  the FAO Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture as a digital  tool, serving as an intra- and inter-regional gateway for the  exchange of information, knowledge between networks of experts  working in technical fields related to green agriculture.

The conference was attended by representatives of government  authorities, scientists, representatives of international  organizations working in related fields, NGOs, civil society  organizations, the private sector, etc.  According to the RA  Statistics Committee, the gross agricultural output of Armenia  increased by 3.7% in the first quarter, to 87.3 billion drams