The visit of "ECOserve" programmme representatives to Balak
On August 14, 2023, representatives of the “ECOserve” programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Alla Berberyan, the Team Leader, Levon Movsisyan, and Aghasi Mnatsyan, programme advisors, visited Balak settlement of Sisian consolidated community to follow up the implementation and get acquainted with the results of "Fodder production demo village - reactivation of non-cultivated arable lands" project.
Nvard Shahmuradyan, Agricultural Projects Coordinator, and Simon Asatryan, Agronomist of "Shen" charity NGO, accompanied the guests during the visit. At first, they introduced the guests to the construction works of the seed filtering and processing plant carried out within the framework of the project. The plant is primarily ready, and only three-phase current wiring works remain to go into operation.
Then, the "Balak Seed Breeding Cooperative" members joined the visitors and visited the fields of alfalfa, sainfoin, and barley that were sown in the spring of 2023 within the framework of the project. The visit coincided with the barley harvest.
Farmers who are cooperative members told the guests that they were satisfied with the harvest results. According to the results, a relatively high harvest of barley was expected. The results were awe-inspiring, as 2.5 tons of barley were harvested from 1 ha in drought conditions. The farmers were preparing to filter the barley crop with the new seed filter purchased for the cooperative within the framework of the project. They would sell part of it as seed and use the other part to increase the barley sowing areas next spring.
The guests also witnessed that the fields of sainfoin and alfalfa were in good condition and had pretty much grown. Some of the sainfoin had already formed seeds. "Shen" specialists instructed the cooperative members regarding the post-harvest protection of the barley crop and the further care of sainfoin and alfalfa.
The visit took place during a very favorable period for monitoring the project. The guests immediately got acquainted with the results and had the opportunity to see the satisfaction of the beneficiaries. This was a valid guarantee of the importance and long-term success of the project.
