Livestock Development expanding from South to North in the South Caucasus
Livestock farming is the main economic activity for most poor households in rural areas of Armenia and Georgia. Through better access to services, inputs and markets, as well as effective management of natural resources, farmers in Armenia are expected to substantially improve their livelihood. Strengthening regional links and access to regional markets of animal and animal products will also make the livestock sector more profitable and increase its competitiveness, hereby contributing to higher incomes and employment for farmers in rural Armenia and Georgia.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Armenia |
Agriculture & food security nothemedefined
Agricultural development
Agricultural research Agricultural services & market |
01.12.2017
- 31.08.2021 |
CHF 3’666’500
|
- Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development of Armenia, National Food Safety Agency, border inspection posts, local municipalities, private entrepreneurs (agriculture service providers, input suppliers)
- Farmers, farmers’ associations
- Milk collection points, dairy processors, slaughterhouses, meat processors, which provide market access to the farmers
- Relevant stakeholders in Georgia
- Livestock farmers and producers in Armenia strengthen their position in the market system and increase their income thanks to reliable market access and diversified opportunities in the milk and meat local and export markets
- Livestock farmers and producers increase profitability thanks to improved access to inputs and business development services and enhanced regional linkages in Armenia and Georgia
- Livestock farmers and producers strengthen productivity and quality of milk and meat and improve livelihoods thanks to sustainable natural resource management in Armenia
- National State Institute North
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Agricultural development
Agricultural research
Agricultural services
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Technical assistance inclusive experts
Project number 7F03199
| Background | Agriculture is a key sector in the economies of Armenia and Georgia. It contributes nearly 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Armenia and 9 percent in Georgia, providing nearly 40 percent of all employment in Armenia and 50 percent in Georgia. In the male dominated livestock sector, women nevertheless play an important role in milking, processing and sale of milk/dairy products. Dairy and meat offer substantial opportunities for regional market development with strengthened cross border exchange and linkages, both between the two countries and with Russia and the Middle-East. Sustainable natural resources management is a key priority for the livestock sector development in Armenia, notably with respect to pasture management where experience accumulated is of particular interest for Georgia. While the livestock project phase 4 in the South of Armenia is ongoing this project will draw upon the experiences gained in previous phases and will scale them up expanding its intervention to the North of the country bordering with Georgia, and exploring opportunities for intensified regional exchanges. |
| Objectives | Poverty and exclusion in the rural areas of Armenia and in border and other areas of Georgia are reduced thanks to higher incomes and employment opportunities in more sustainable livestock and related market systems. (Expansion of the ongoing phase 4 livestock project) |
| Target groups |
|
| Medium-term outcomes |
|
| Results |
Expected results: 85,000 rural population with enhanced access to agricultural markets and farm support services 20,000 rural inhabitants (25% of total, 30% women) in target areas with net additional income in livestock and related market systems 5 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) develop and implement export plans 4 new cross-border market linkages between wholesalers and retailers established 100 full time jobs created (20 percent female) At least 2 environmentally friendly practices introduced /improved (pasture management, fodder production ) in 88 rural settlements (at least two in total and at least 1 per community) 100’000 ha of pasturelands used under improved land management practices Results from previous phases: 22’300 farmers (51% of the total number of farmers /43’500) benefited from the project interventions in South Armenia 45 percent out of the beneficiary farmers (10’000 farmers) increased their income by 67 percent (i.e. 17% average increase annually ; 13 percent higher to the national average) 100 full time jobs were created ( 85 men and 15 women) In total CHF 7.5 million of net additional income were gained by the farmers 120 supported entities (dairies, farm services and input suppliers) improved their business practices/outreach and generated more income for their business 23’000 ha of quality pastures (11% of total pastures) became accessible for farmers in project area in the result of improved pasture management practices 76,000 of pasturelands used under improved land management practices |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Foreign state institution |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | Continued cooperation and coordination with entities engaged in rural development: Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), European Union/ European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), SDC Local Governance Program, Alliances South Caucasus Program (ALCP) in Georgia, and regional women economic empowerment program with UNWOMEN. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3’666’500 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 3’636’500 |
| Project phases |
Phase 5 01.12.2017 - 31.08.2021 (Completed) Phase 4 01.09.2014 - 31.12.2021 (Completed) Phase 3 01.09.2011 - 30.11.2016 (Completed) |
