"Bread for the World" Delegation in Shirak Marz
On November 28, the delegation of "Bread for the World," namely Kim Kwibuka, Programme Officer for South Caucasus and Central Asia, Leon Schettler, Head of Division - Human Resources Collaboration Global, Claudia Hinderer, Personnel Services Programme Manager, accompanied by Hayk Minasyan, chairman of the board of "Shen" NGO, and the representatives of the Shirak field office of "Shen" NGO, visited Shirak Marz for the monitoring of the programs implemented with the support of "Bread for the World."
In the Meghrashat settlement of the Amasia consolidated community, the delegation visited the "Northern Cheese" agricultural cooperative.
The cooperative members are mainly women producing Chechil (Armenian string cheese) cheese. Armine Adamyan, the president of the cooperative, presented the volumes of milk procurement and the problems related to the sale of cheese. The guests had the opportunity to see some parts of Chechil preparation. The cooperative is increasing its activities by expanding the workshop area and acquiring new equipment.
By the way, it is here that "Birthright Armenia" volunteers from different countries usually carry out their volunteer activities. During the visit, Andrew from the USA also welcomed the guests.
In 2022, with co-financing of "Bread for the World," "Shen" NGO implemented the project to reconstruct the irrigation system and construct the pumping station in the Hovit settlement of the Akhuryan consolidated community.
The project was implemented with the state subsidy component. The guests visited Hovit, where Avetik Seropyan, the administrative head of the settlement, presented the pumping station's capacity and the project's impact. About 250 hectares of land became irrigated thanks to this project. The locals shared their expectations about the benefits of the irrigation system.
Afterward, the delegation continued to the South of Shirak Marz, visiting the "Meghrashen agricultural" consumer cooperative in the Meghrashen settlement of the Artik consolidated community.
The cooperative is engaged in grain refining and disinfection. The waste obtained from filtering is turned into fodder through a mill. The latter enables the cooperative to provide service throughout the year.
Thanks to the savings and additional investments of the members, the cooperative doubled its production space last year. It acquired a new vacuum mill necessary for obtaining combined feeds.
"Shen" NGO projects cover all communities in Shirak Marz, aiming to implement multifaceted community development in rural settlements farthest from the regional center: educational and community infrastructures, support for cooperatives, and other agricultural programs.
