Swiss-funded SIGMA project creates new opportunities for small rural households in Armenia

A series of agricultural initiatives are set to launch this year as part of the Sustainable Inclusive Growth in Mountainous Armenia (SIGMA) project. The line-up includes an educational, scientific, and industrial beekeeping centre in the Lori region, a seed cleaning and treatment centre for cereals and legumes, and a cold storage facility in Gegharkunik. The SIGMA project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It is implemented by DAI Global UK (DAI) and its branch in Armenia, in cooperation with AMPERA Consulting Company as a local partner. SIGMA aims to reduce poverty and inequality in the mountainous settlements of Armenia through inclusive, innovative, and environmentally friendly approaches. The project partners with private companies to co-invest in the development of agriculture and rural tourism in Armenia.

“The co-investments of SIGMA and private companies primarily create new opportunities for small rural households. By accessing the services created through these co-investment projects, these households are able to increase their productivity and incomes. In turn, SIGMA’s partners gain new revenue streams as service providers,” notes Karen Gevorgyan, the Team Lead of the SIGMA project.

An automated hose-reel sprinkler has already been deployed in the Spitak community of the Lori region as part of the SIGMA project. The system saves time, minimises water loss, decreases the risk of surface water flow and erosion, and boosts the economic efficiency of agricultural production. This intervention has also been replicated in the Vardenis community, Gegharkunik region. Meanwhile, in the settlement of Margahovit, efforts are underway to establish an educational, scientific, and industrial beekeeping centre. The facility will provide training, quality assurance, processing and marketing services, aiming to boost the quality of bee products. Farmers in another settlement of the Lori region - Gyulagarak - will soon have access to comprehensive agricultural mechanisation services for cultivating grain crops and potatoes. These services will become available starting from autumn, 2024, thanks to another co-investment project.

The seed cleaning and treatment centre for cereals and legumes in the Vardenis community will be ready for operation in September. It is set to improve the seed quality of grains and leguminous crops, leading to boosted crop yields. Another agricultural centre – a cold storage facility – will open in the settlement of Vardenik this autumn, as part of the SIGMA project. Farmers from Vardenik and 20 neighbouring villages will soon have the opportunity to sell their harvests directly to this newly created centre or store them there.

Launched in March 2024, the SIGMA project is designed to increase the incomes and create employment opportunities for farmers and small rural households in the regions of Shirak, Lori, Tavush, and Gegharkunik. Spanning ten years, SIGMA plans to implement 21 co-investment projects in its first phase (2024-2026). These include 15 projects aimed at advancing the agriculture sector and 6 projects promoting rural tourism.