2007 – Activities on Alternative Agriculture

Activities carried out by AWHHE in the frame of TMF project in 2007
The project is implemented in 3 villages: The village Hayanist of Ararat marz and the villages Dzoraghbyur and Fantan of Kotayk marz.

Hayanits orchard: An organic peach and apricot orchard on 3300 m2 was founded in Hayanist.    

Treatment of fruit orchards using the vegetative preparations in Fantan, Saghmosavan and Dzoraghbyur were organized. Treatment of trees was done by plant liquids from wormwoods (Artemisia absinthium) and milfoil (Achillea millefolium). During each treatment of fruit orchard we also organized field days for neighbor farmers.
The hunting belts were put against insects 2 biological (pheromone) traps were hanged in each orchard against (Laspeyresia) seedworms.  

 4 trainings for farmers and other interested people were organized on sustainable agriculture and IPM promotion. Total number of participants in trainings was 63. During the trainings we presented our experience in replacing pesticides by herbal pesticides as a part of IPM implementation  and also all other necessary points of sustainable agriculture as crop rotation, composting, bio humus production and use.

Fantan demonstration field: The harvest of onobrychis and winter wheat was a good harvest for Fantan conditions.  It is more than middle harvest for Fantan for winter wheat and good harvest as organic one without niter.

The NGO “Shen” invited AWHHE to participate in Organic products autumn fair. On the opening day organic products of all producers were presented. AWHHE also had its one table where all AWHHE information materials, winter wheat and spelt, amaranth and dried plants wormwood and milfoil were presented. The autumn fair was a very nice event and gave opportunities to organic producers to sell their products. AWHHE was the only presenter of cereal crops.  

Amaranth pilot – In November, 2006 began the work on the use of Amaranth as a protein additive to the fodder of the domestic cattle started. The experiment aimed at confirming the data about the effectiveness of feeding with Amaranth. As a result of the experiment a farmer from Hayanist expressed a desire to grow amaranth on his own and he applied to us for help in regard to seeds. The relatively high cost price of amaranth hay made the introduction of the amaranth as a valuable substitute in the ration of agricultural animals impossible.

In Dzoraghbyur it was planned to feed suckling pigs with seeds that were kept in a store. The animals were fed with amaranth powder as 30% substitute of the main fodder, and the other suckling pigs were fed as usual.

Stevia – In 2005 the NGO AWHHE developed a project aimed at contributing to the rural sustainable development through promotion of separate farms for growing stevia that has a distinct pharmacological effect, particularly for diabetics. It is an excellent substitute of sugar.
The seeds were transplanted in pots.

During the three years of its activities in growing stevia the NGO AWHHE succeeded in obtaining plants of stevia acclimatized to local conditions and also in getting seeds with low cost price.
We came to the conclusion that stevia may become popular in Armenia if modern technologies of the processing of the dry leaves are used and if this produce is widely propagandized. Moreover, it is necessary to work out normative documentation, to conduct clinic trials and a broad publicity campaign.