Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China Fan Yong and representatives of the UN World Food Program visited the Lusakert community of Shirak province, where the UN implements the ‘Green Energy for Efficient Agriculture” project.
The project was launched in 2021 with a donation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The first component of the project provided the community center with a solar plant.
Samvel Balabekyan (Administrative Head of Lusakert community) - There was no contribution from the community, it was just help for the community. It is a 20 kW power plant that will be used for the benefit of the community.
The station has been in operation since May. With annual savings, the community is going to support the development of agriculture. With the other component of the project, fifteen farms from the community received seeds and underwent a training course on non-traditional farming and horticulture.
Gohar Nikolyan is a beneficiary of the program with his family, this year he also grew new crops in addition to the traditional ones.
The investment in Shirak province is not very big, but the results are satisfactory. The experience can be used in other communities as well, says Nanna Skau, acting director of the Armenian office of the UN World Food Program.
Nanna Skau (Acting Director of the UN World Food Program Armenia Office) - We thank the People's Republic of China for supporting this project. $25,000 is not a lot of money, but it makes a big impact. Actually, the program has three components: 15 farmers received assistance in the form of a drip irrigation system, and also participated in agrarian training and improved their knowledge. The community also has a solar system now, which will enable them to save money and invest in agriculture.
China's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Fan Yong was satisfied with the success of the farms. The program is in the logic of the poverty alleviation strategy.
Fan Yong (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Armenia) - Poverty is not really a country's problem, it is a global problem, and its overcoming requires a universal approach. The People's Republic of China is happy to support similar programs that contribute to poverty alleviation in Armenia.
The UN World Food Program implements similar programs in more than 50 communities of Armenia.
And China intends to expand the agricultural support program in the near future.
