Activities carried out by AWHHE in the frame of TMF project in 2007
The project is implemented in 3 villages: The village Hayanist of Ararat marz and the villages Dzoraghbyur and Fantan of Kotayk marz.

Hayanits orchard: An organic peach and apricot orchard on 3300 m2 was founded in Hayanist.    

Treatment of fruit orchards using the vegetative preparations in Fantan, Saghmosavan and Dzoraghbyur were organized. Treatment of trees was done by plant liquids from wormwoods (Artemisia absinthium) and milfoil (Achillea millefolium). During each treatment of fruit orchard we also organized field days for neighbor farmers.
The hunting belts were put against insects 2 biological (pheromone) traps were hanged in each orchard against (Laspeyresia) seedworms.  

 4 trainings for farmers and other interested people were organized on sustainable agriculture and IPM promotion. Total number of participants in trainings was 63. During the trainings we presented our experience in replacing pesticides by herbal pesticides as a part of IPM implementation  and also all other necessary points of sustainable agriculture as crop rotation, composting, bio humus production and use.

Fantan demonstration field: The harvest of onobrychis and winter wheat was a good harvest for Fantan conditions.  It is more than middle harvest for Fantan for winter wheat and good harvest as organic one without niter.

The NGO “Shen” invited AWHHE to participate in Organic products autumn fair. On the opening day organic products of all producers were presented. AWHHE also had its one table where all AWHHE information materials, winter wheat and spelt, amaranth and dried plants wormwood and milfoil were presented. The autumn fair was a very nice event and gave opportunities to organic producers to sell their products. AWHHE was the only presenter of cereal crops.  

Amaranth pilot – In November, 2006 began the work on the use of Amaranth as a protein additive to the fodder of the domestic cattle started. The experiment aimed at confirming the data about the effectiveness of feeding with Amaranth. As a result of the experiment a farmer from Hayanist expressed a desire to grow amaranth on his own and he applied to us for help in regard to seeds. The relatively high cost price of amaranth hay made the introduction of the amaranth as a valuable substitute in the ration of agricultural animals impossible.

In Dzoraghbyur it was planned to feed suckling pigs with seeds that were kept in a store. The animals were fed with amaranth powder as 30% substitute of the main fodder, and the other suckling pigs were fed as usual.

Stevia – In 2005 the NGO AWHHE developed a project aimed at contributing to the rural sustainable development through promotion of separate farms for growing stevia that has a distinct pharmacological effect, particularly for diabetics. It is an excellent substitute of sugar.
The seeds were transplanted in pots.

During the three years of its activities in growing stevia the NGO AWHHE succeeded in obtaining plants of stevia acclimatized to local conditions and also in getting seeds with low cost price.
We came to the conclusion that stevia may become popular in Armenia if modern technologies of the processing of the dry leaves are used and if this produce is widely propagandized. Moreover, it is necessary to work out normative documentation, to conduct clinic trials and a broad publicity campaign.

Activities carried out by AWHHE in the frame of TMF project in 2007
The project is implemented in 3 villages: The village Hayanist of Ararat marz and the villages Dzoraghbyur and Fantan of Kotayk marz.

2 agronomists from Fantan and Dzoraghbyur and 3 AWHHE members participated in “Networkshop” organized by WECF and Unser LAND UNSER-Women and Rural Development in Germany. Plan for organic farming in Fantan and Dzoraghbyur was developed in Germany with Wolfgang Raddatz, international expert. Later the plan was updated in Armenia with Manuk Harutyunyan, national expert.
AWHHE organized international conference on “Organic Agriculture Development and Opportunities in Armenia”. Margariet Samwel and Gero Fedtke participated from WECF. For preparation of the conference AWHHE organized meetings with Garnik Petrosyan, Head of Plant Protection Department of Ministry of Agriculture; Nune Sarukhanyan, Head of NGO “Green Lane”, representatives of the NGO “SHEN” on future cooperation and participation in upcoming international seminar on ecofarming. The total number of participants at the conference was 56, among them there were representatives from Ministry of Agriculture, Academy of Agriculture, as well from project villages and Armenian environmental NGOs. 85% of participants of the Iinternational conference confirmed that they benefit from the conference information.

Demonstration plots – Lusine Nalbandyan and Manuk Harutyunyan took samples of the soil from the project 2 villages.  Soil samples from Fantan and Hayanist were analyzed in Germany. They conducted 7 seminars in the project villages on organic farming and about works in chosen demonstration plots. Later they visited demonstration plants and orchard in Fantan. Lusine Nalbandyan had 2 meetings with Garnik Petrosyan, Head of Plants’ Growing and Plants’ Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture on buying seeds. With his support and advice Lusine contacted with the Selective Station in Gyumri, which is the only state organization in this field. In 28.03.2006 AWHHE bought and transported the seeds from Gyumri to Fantan and Dzoraghbyur. Also, AWHHE bought and transported the biohumus to Fantan and Dzoraghbyur. Lusine Nalbandyan and Manuk Harutyunyan had discussions with farmers on work in the chosen demonstration plots. They participated in seed sowing, plant protection (phitotherapy) and watering. 6 injections in Fantan and 6 sprayings in Dzoraghbyur for protection of the trees from diseases and pests by using liquid plants were done. For getting biohumus a vcompost was made in Hayanist.

7 seminars in the project villages on organic farming and about work in chosen demonstration plots were organized.

AWHHE had series of meetings and discussions with the NGOs “Armenian Forests” and “Armenian Tree Project” on tree planting possibilities in Fantan. The NGO “Armenian Tree Project” planted two rows of trees (total 550 trees) in Fantan.
Amaranth pilot – AWHHE bought and transported the biohumus; soil cultivation; sowing of the amaranth seed and watering were done during the season. As a result of amaranth pilot activities two mowing were made and 80 (1600 kg hay) and 40 packages (840 kg) were received, each weighing 20 kg.
In November the works on the use of amaranth as a protein additive to the fodder of the domestic cattle have been started. The portion of amaranth in the second mowing was small, that is why for the experiment a farm was chosen where in the past have been tied 80 packages, i.e. 1600 kg of amaranth hay. The experiment was aimed at confirming the data about the effectiveness of feeding with amaranth. As indicators were chosen the indices of overweight, fattiness and milk yield of the cows. In the farm were chosen two cows, two calves and one pig.
The experiment was conducted from the 6th up to the 23rd of November. Till the 6th of November, during a month, there has been a control over the milking capacity of the chosen cows. The average milk yield of the “white” cow made up 9 liters, and of the “brown” cow it was 7 liters per day.

On the 6th of November the calves and the pig were weighed. The weight of the “beige” calf was 150kg, and the weight of the “black” one was 80kg. The pig weighed 30 kg. On the same day was checked the fattiness of the milk, which made up 3, 6 % in the “white” cow, and 3, 5% in the “brown” one. Then during the period of 6-23 November the daily portion of the “white” cow was substituted with hay of amaranth by 30%, the portion of the “brown” cow remained the same. The portion of the pig was substituted with amaranth by 50%.

At the end of the experiment, i.e. on 23rd of November the fattiness and the milk yield were again checked, which accounted for 3,9 % in and 10 liters in “white” cow, and 3,5 % and 7 liters in the “brown” cow, respectively.  During the mentioned period the weight of the “beige” calf was 170kg, the “black” calf weighed 90kg, and the pig weighed 46kg.
The whole experiment was conducted under the supervision of the veterinary surgeon. According to the conclusion of the veterinary surgeon, thanks to the use of the amaranth additive to the ration of the animals the indices of the overweight, milk yield and fattiness surpassed the accepted mean values. In particular, the daily overweight was 940 g instead of the generally accepted 500g.
However, pilot on amaranth growing was finished because its growing is expensive and not affordable for villagers.
Esmeralda Lyulejan and Knarik Grigoryan disseminated amaranth seed for cooking and sewing in Fantan (61 kg), Dzoraghbyur (50 kg) and for sowing in Hayanist (40 kg). At the same time leaflets for usage of amaranth seed were disseminated. Monitoring was conducted on the use of Amaranth in three villages: Dzoraghbyur, Fantan and Hayanist in last months of 2006. After the monitoring there was a partial change in the list of the children who wanted to use Amaranth. Also was made a list of the adults, the inhabitants of c. Yerevan, mainly those who suffer diabetes and wish to use Amaranth in their food.  Among 100 households in Dzoraghbyur 63% wanted to receive Amaranth for cooking. 115 households of Hayanist that received Amaranth in May and all of them wished to receive again. All recipients of Amaranth in Fantan (44 households) also wanted to use again.

Stevia -The bushes of stevia that were grown in the open ground were cut and covered with soil. The bushes of stevia that were grown in pots also were cut and removed into a closed building for winter storage. After stevia blossoming in October 250 seed were received for further planting.

Amaranth plant possesses valuable nutritional qualities and miraculous strength. The information about amaranth and its characteristics is currently available on many internet sites. We would like to provide some more information about perspectives of amaranth growing in Armenia. As significant part of population in our country experiences the problem of malnutrition or cannot afford full value diet, we have chosen amaranth because of its highly nutritional qualities. Climatic conditions in Armenia are favorable for growing of this undemanding crop, which is resistant to drought and temperature drops. Moreover, the nutritional and healthy values of this plant are indisputable. Amaranth can become a perfect substitute of many protein products or a good alimentary adding, which is especially important for indigent population. Another important characteristic of that crop is that it is a wasteless agricultural product, both the grains and leaves of which are used.

Power Point Presentation: Nutrition and Sustainable development Armenia: experience of Amaranth growing

It’s time to take the crop (click image to enlarge)	Ladie’s first! (click image to enlarge)	Harvesters (click image to enlarge)
Amaranth field	President of AWHHE and “Amaranth” team (click image to enlarge)	“Amaranth” team
With love..	Amaranth seeds are basking in the sun… (click image to enlarge)	And everything is for your sake…!
Count of bags with amaranth flour (click image to enlarge)	Tasting of amaranth products (click image to enlarge)	Healthy future to you, little one! (click image to enlarge)