German and Swiss Delegation in Balak
On June 30, a delegation led by Katrin Buder-Pelz, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Armenia, and Ursula Laubli, the Deputy Regional Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, visited the village of Balak in Syunik Province to learn about the programs implemented by Shen in 2023–2025.
The guests visited the Balak Cooperative, engaged with its members, and explored questions related to the cooperative’s financial sustainability and the increase in members’ incomes.
In partnership with Bread for the World, Shen carried out activities in 2022–2023 aimed at strengthening the cooperative’s economic capacity and promoting its sustainable development.
The delegation visited sainfoin, barley, alfalfa fields and restored pastures (123 hectares) that were brought under cultivation in 2023–2024 with the support of GIZ and Shen.
GIZ has also provided financial support to the Balak Cooperative to establish grain processing and seed production capacities, enabling its involvement in the production of local varieties of sainfoin and barley.
As part of a new initiative for 2025–2028, Shen and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) plan to establish a 9-hectare agroforest, which will create new opportunities for the cooperative’s development.
The cooperative members proudly noted that, for the first time this year, they will sell 6 tons of seed from the renowned “Sisian Local” sainfoin variety, and Balak Cooperative will be recognized as a seed-producing organization.
Community development becomes possible through joint efforts and the support of trusted partners.
