Reuters AlertNet Lite - Seed distribution in Armenia to double harvest and income generation

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FROM THE FIELD

Seed distribution in Armenia to double harvest and income generation

30 Oct 2007 11:57:10 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

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Arman Petrossyan, 39, shows the high quality seeds that will double his harvest, generating more income for his eight-member family.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

Farmers' income is expected to double next year thanks to high quality seeds recently distributed by World Vision in 10 rural communities in Aragatsotn region, 75 km northwest of Armenia's capital city Yerevan.

'Having a high quality wheat seed is very important for my family, because with these new seeds we can double our yield, thus generating more income for my eight-member family,' says Arman Petrossyan, 39, from Tsamaqasar village.

World Vision distributed 300 kg of high quality seeds per hectare of land to 27 community members with the projected forecast of doubling wheat production in August, reaping 2,000 to 3,000 kg of wheat harvest per hectare. Approximately 45 hectares of land will be covered by the project.

World Vision also provided the beneficiaries with fertilizers to spur the growth of the particular type of wheat distributed.

Community members received training sessions on agricultural techniques of cereal production and management of the seed bank.

After next year's harvest, farmers who received the seed will donate to some 50 other community members 450 kg of seed per hectare as a result of a signed agreement between them.

'The agreement enables villagers to guarantee the spread of the high quality seeds throughout the region,' explains Arthur Navasardyan, Talin Area Development Program Coordinator of World Vision Armenia.

The distribution is the first time high quality seed has been introduced to the communities of Aragatsotn, Armenia's primary wheat producing region. The region's wheat seed bank has not been improved for nearly 20 years.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Tue Oct 30 21:55:49 2007