Nestled among the rolling green hills of Armenia's Lori region, the community of Gyulagarak has long relied on agriculture as both a livelihood and a way of life. For generations, farming has sustained local families and shaped the community's identity.Yet farming has become increasingly challenging. Floods, limited access to quality seeds and rising production costs have placed growing pressure on rural households, making it harder for farmers to maintain stable incomes.Faced with these challenges, six local farmers - Vruyr Ayvazyan, Mikayel Alaverdyan, Aren Frangyan, Alexandr Ghukasyan, Artem Tonoyan and Henrik Varosyan - chose cooperation over working alone. Alongside the cooperative’s six members, women and young people from the community contribute to its work as seasonal workers, providing essential support during peak agricultural periods and helping the cooperative meet increased production demands.With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), they established the Hatik Agricultural Cooperative under the European Union-funded Local Empowerment of Actors for Development (LEAD) in Lori and Tavush Regions project - a project implemented jointly by FAO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).A shared vision takes rootOnly two years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine that a small group of grain farmers from the communities of Vardablur, Hobardzin and Gyulagarak would cultivate hundreds of hectares of land, introduce modern seed production technologies and inspire young people to see agriculture as a promising future.Today, five members continue that journey.  What united them was more than a shared occupation. They recognized that by working together they could achieve far more than they ever could individually."When the moment is right, you bring your efforts together and turn ideas into shared action," says Vruyr Ayvazyan, founder of the Hatik Agricultural Cooperative.The members' diverse professional backgrounds have become one of the cooperative's greatest strengths. Among them are an accountant, a land development specialist, a lawyer who also farms and a seed production specialist. "Our different professions are our strength," Vruyr explains. "We all work in agriculture, but each of us brings different knowledge and experience. Together, we complement one another and achieve much more than we could alone."The cooperative's foundations were built not only in the fields but also during countless evening discussions. After long working days, the members gathered for what they call their "night meetings", planning, debating and refining ideas late into the night. Those conversations helped shape their strategy and strengthened their shared commitment to building something lasting.Turning challenges into collective strengthThe idea behind the cooperative emerged from a simple reality: the region had considerable agricultural potential but lacked the resources needed to fully realize it."We didn't have access to large-scale resources," says Vruyr. "We understood that working alone, we could not achieve the results we wanted." For years, farmers in Lori faced limited access to affordable, high-quality seeds, rising input costs and complex supply chains. Cereal crops were increasingly affected by weed infestation, while the cultivation of legumes remained limited because certified seed was difficult to obtain.Access to professional agricultural advice was also scarce.Then came another major setback.Flooding of the Debed River caused extensive damage to local businesses, including the cooperative. Years of hard work were affected within minutes as infrastructure was damaged, incomes were disrupted and recovery plans had to be reconsidered."You spend years building something, and then, in a single moment, you watch it disappear before your eyes," Vruyr recalls. "But by trusting one another and supporting each other, we found the strength to begin again."Rather than allowing the disaster to define them, the members chose to rebuild. For the cooperative, every challenge became another reason to grow stronger together.Cultivating stability and opportunityIn just two years, the cooperative has achieved remarkable progress.Today, Hatik Agriculture Cooperative cultivates almost 200 hectares of land, including areas that had previously remained unused. Building on the cooperative’s own experience and efforts, its production has expanded and diversified, while support provided through the EU-funded project, implemented by FAO, has contributed to strengthening its capacity for quality seed production.Through the project, Hatik was introduced to modern seed production technologies, helping diversify local sources of quality seed and strengthen the resilience of the local seed supply.The cooperative has produced and supplied significant quantities of seed, including, including pea, buckwheat and potato varieties, contributing to the development of locally adapted seed production and more resilient local seed systems.
  Looking ahead, the members believe that further investment in modern seed production equipment, combined with technical advisory services, will provide local farmers with opportunities that were previously out of reach. Their seed production fields now serve as demonstration plots where farmers can observe improved technologies and practices firsthand. Beyond agricultural production, Hatik has become a centre for knowledge sharing. The cooperative regularly hosts training sessions organized with development partners,   bringing together farmers and creating opportunities for women and young people interested in agriculture to access knowledge, exchange experiences and strengthen their skills. By opening its activities to women and youth, the cooperative is helping broaden participation in agricultural development and create greater opportunities for their engagement in the sector."In this regard, we are a locomotive," Vruyr says with a smile.By demonstrating that farming can be innovative, well-organized and economically viable, the cooperative is helping restore confidence in agriculture as a profession."Young people should not be discouraged by small setbacks," Vruyr says. "They should aim higher and think bigger."FAO has supported this journey by providing technical guidance to strengthen the cooperative's capacity in seed production, planning and collaborative management. While this support helped establish a strong foundation, it has been the determination, resilience and commitment of the cooperative's members that have driven its success.Today, the Hatik Agricultural Cooperative demonstrates how collective action can strengthen rural livelihoods, improve resilience and create new opportunities for farming communities.Its story reflects how farmers can come together to pool experience, resources and expertise, while building on their individual knowledge and entrepreneurial efforts. Through cooperation, Hatik’s members are strengthening agricultural production and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable local farming system.

For generations, this rhythm has remained unaltered, guided by experience, instinct, and hard work.That rhythm remains unchanged at its core. But today, innovation is growing alongside tradition.At the heart of this transformation is the Agrocenter, established by the Tavush Foundation. What began as a local initiative has become a catalyst for change, helping farmers access knowledge, modern agricultural practices, and new opportunities.A response shaped by real needsIn 2023, the Tavush Foundation established the Agrocenter in the Berd community with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the European Union-funded “Local Empowerment of Actors for Development (LEAD) in Lori and Tavush Regions” project, implemented jointly with UNDP.The Agrocenter was not created as a ready-made solution. Instead, it emerged from a deep understanding of the realities faced by local farmers and communities. Its purpose was not only to introduce modern agricultural tools and techniques, but also to reimagine how agriculture could better serve the people whose livelihoods depend on it.  “We didn’t start with technology,” recalls Lusik Aghababyan, Executive Director of the Tavush Charitable Foundation and the Agrocenter. “We started by understanding the community, its challenges, its potential, and its resources.” This people-centred approach became the cornerstone of the Agrocenter’s work, ensuring that every initiative was rooted in local needs and built on the community’s own potential for growth. The challenges facing farmers in Berd were complex and deeply entrenched. Fragmented landholdings, aging and unreliable irrigation systems, and persistent labour shortages - driven in part by youth migration in search of work - made farming an increasingly difficult livelihood. Even in years of strong harvests, rising production costs eroded profits, leaving many families struggling to translate hard work into sustainable income.Designed in direct response to the realities faced by local farmers, it offered more than technical assistance, it provided a pathway to change. By promoting efficient, innovative agricultural practices and encouraging new approaches to farming, the Agrocenter has helped lay the foundation for a more resilient and forward-looking agricultural sector in Berd. At the same time, it has contributed to something equally important: fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation within the community, empowering farmers to see new possibilities for growth and development.The people behind the transformationWhat makes the Agrocenter successful is not only the services it provides, but the people behind them. Building a strong team was one of the initiative’s earliest challenges. “The biggest challenge was finding a qualified agronomist,” recalls Mrs. Aghababyan. That search led to Tigran Duryan. At a time when many young professionals were leaving rural communities in pursuit of opportunities elsewhere, Tigran made a different choice. Despite receiving a job offer in Yerevan, he decided to remain in Berd, bringing his expertise back to the community where it could make the greatest difference. Combining scientific knowledge with a deep understanding of local agricultural realities, Tigran quickly became a trusted adviser to farmers across the region.Behind the Agrocenter’s progress is a dedicated and multidisciplinary team - led by Lusik Aghababyan - that brings together diverse skills, experience, and perspectives to support farmers and advance the organization’s mission. Social workers Hasmik Palanduzyan and Heghine Gharabaghtsyan ensure that services remain inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of women and farming households. Agronomist Tigran Duryan bridges science and practice through hands-on agricultural expertise. Natella Tumanyan strengthens communication between the Agrocenter and the community, ensuring that information is clear, timely, and actionable. Meanwhile, Levon Navasardyan extends the reach of services to even the most remote villages, ensuring that no farmer is left behind.Together, the team has become more than a service provider: it functions as a bridge, connecting knowledge with practice, innovation with tradition, and institutional support with everyday farming realities.“We see clear changes in behaviour and mindset,” Lusik notes. One of the most promising areas of impact is youth engagement. In 2025 alone, more than 500 students participated in agricultural demonstrations and learning activities organized by the Agrocenter, gaining firsthand exposure to modern farming practices and innovations.These initiatives go beyond awareness-raising. They are shaping future choices and expanding horizons.Lusik believes changing perceptions is essential: “We want young people to see agriculture differently - as something modern, viable, and worth investing in.”In a region where migration has long-shaped demographic and economic realities, this shift carries particular significance. It creates an alternative narrative where staying is not driven by necessity, but by opportunity, confidence, and choice.The work of the Agrocenter continues to evolve. What began as a limited set of services has gradually expanded into a broader system of agricultural support, including crop treatment services and the introduction of diverse cultivation practices such as beans, corn, and tobacco. This gradual expansion reflects both growing community needs and the Agrocenter’s ability to adapt in response to them.At the same time, the Agrocenter is investing in modern equipment and continuously strengthening its technical and organizational capacity to better serve farmers across the region.

On July 21, a coordination meeting on strategic directions and 3Y action plan in the agricultural sector, jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the UN Office in Armenia, was held. The agenda included a review of the recently developed 3Y Action Plan on sectoral reforms, land and water management, food security, trade diversification, climate and sustainable development.The meeting was moderated by UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Francoise Jacob, and co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Abisoghomonyan, and the Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan. Among the attendees were representatives of UN agencies and partner organizations. During the workshop, the Armenia-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2026-2030 was discussed, as well as the main directions of the country programmes of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the World Food Program for 2026-2030. The continuous development of cooperation was emphasized in order to promote innovative, sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in Armenia. The importance of forming a competitive and inclusive agricultural system was emphasized, which will contribute to strengthening the country's food security and sustainable development of rural areas.The workshop also touched upon the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) to be held in Armenia and the event planned within its framework dedicated to the topic of biodiversity and agriculture, which will be an important platform for presenting Armenia's experience and approaches to international partners.

Yerevan, 25 June 2026 - The United Nations Country Team in Armenia convened a consultation with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and NGOs representing children with disabilities at the UN House in Yerevan. The consultation formed part of the UN’s ongoing dialogue with OPDs, aimed at strengthening participation, ensuring that disability inclusion remains a priority across UN programming and advocacy, and providing a platform for direct exchange between OPDs and UN agencies.Discussions focused on two key thematic areas: disability inclusion in the labour market, and the intersection between disability inclusion, biodiversity and environmental action, including opportunities linked to the upcoming COP17 to be hosted in Armenia. Participants underscored the importance of meaningful and continuous consultation, stronger implementation of disability rights commitments, improved accessibility and reasonable accommodation, and the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.The consultation reaffirmed the UN Armenia’s commitment to working in close partnership with OPDs to advance disability inclusion in Armenia. It also highlighted the importance of ensuring that UN support is informed by the lived experiences, expertise and priorities of persons with disabilities.