June 12, 2007
Top MCC Officials Attend Armenia Water-to-Market Activity Graduation
Chief Executive Officer for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) U.S Ambassador John Danilovich attended a water management trainee graduation in Armenia. The event recognized 29 farmers from ACDI/VOCA’s Water-to-Market Activity (WTM) in Armenia, which is funded by Millennium Challenge Account-Armenia (MCA-Armenia).
The Armenian Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, MCC-Armenia Resident Country Director Alex Russin and MCA-Armenia Chief Executive Officer Ara Hovsepyan also attended the graduation.
Commending the trainees, Danilovich said, “This particular program has tremendous significance for us. Not only for you who are here but also eventually for the 60,000 farmers who will participate in this particular farmer training program and the additional 30,000 who will participate in another training program.”
Danilovich distributed the training certificates and, hosted by local farmer Simon Jamalyan, visited one of ACDI/VOCA’s on-farm, high-value agriculture demonstration sites.
ACDI/VOCA implements the $18.4 million MCC-funded WTM to accelerate the transition of the Armenian economy through irrigation rehabilitation and more profitable agricultural production.
Russin also commended the project’s achievements following the graduation, saying, “These events proved very successful in demonstrating that the MCA-Armenia Program, specifically the Water-to-Market Activity, is quickly showing tangible results. In particular, there was a palpable sense of pride and of ownership in the farmers’ handshakes as they came up to get their diplomas from Makrita and the Ambassador.”
ACDI/VOCA-Armenia Chief of Party Gene Neill said, “Under our contract we will train 60,000 farmers in on-farm water management, and 30,000 farmers in high-value agriculture.”
To date, 469 beneficiaries from the areas of Armavir, Lori and Gegharkunik have received training in proper water management techniques.
ACDI/VOCA also recently won a two-year MCC-funded $2.9 Farmer Access to Credit (FAC) project in Honduras. The project will increase the supply of credit and the availability of other financial services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural enterprises. It is ACDI/VOCA’s second MCC award and like the program in Armenia it will develop local capacity to ensure sustainability.
To read the MCA-Armenia press release, please click here.