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The first buckwheat processing plant was opened today in Tsovagyugh village of Armenia’s Gegharkunik region. The cooperative named “Tsovagyugh buckwheat” is established by 105 residents of the community with AMD 50 thousand and a land with an area of one hectare invested by each of them.

The head of the cooperative Susanna Tovmasyan expressed her delight over the results in an interview with Panorama.am.

“In early July our harvest was hit by severe hailstorms with total 30 percent losses of the plantations, yet buckwheat is renewable crop. There were lands that hadn’t been cultivated for 25 years. We received 1.5-1.7 tons of buckwheat from a land of one hectare. We are satisfied,” Tovmasyan said.

The plant has been established within the European Neighbourhood Partnership agriculture and rural development” (ENPARD) project. Specialist from Russia trained the local farmers. In the scope of the program free buckwheat seeds and fertilizers were provided.
 
The community residents are ready to expand the area of the cultivated land, the production capacity of the plant as well as the cooperative staff.
 
“We have already buyers of the processed buckwheat. The product is not packed, since awaiting a sewing machine. Currently we are sorting out the product and will distribute to large stores,” Tovmasyan informed.

The plant has solved the employment issue for 10 people. The cooperative members haven’t yet calculated the expected profit. “No final calculations have been done, yet we are sure no one will be dissatisfied,” the head of the cooperative stressed.

To note, The European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) launched in Armenia in January 2015 and will last for three years. The Program is designed to support the agricultural institutions, encourage the development of farmers’ associations and improve access to more affordable food in the European Neighborhood countries.


Photos from Cooperative Facebook Page