From Uncertainty to Opportunity: the Journey of the Hatik Agricultural Cooperative

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 root

Only 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 strength

The 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 opportunity

In 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.