“We Are Our Mountains” agency launches a program to re-equip Artsakh greenhouses

The “We Are Our Mountains” territorial development agency has launched a program to re-equip the greenhouses of Artsakh, with the aim of alleviating the food crisis caused by the blockade.

The project envisages the re-equipment of around 14,000 square meters of greenhouse farms with cooling, humidification, lighting, heating, irrigation, and fertilization systems, which will provide an opportunity to increase the efficiency of the farms and significantly augment the volume of products.

The project is implemented through public-private cooperation. Recently, a cooperation agreement was signed between the “We Are Our Mountains” territorial development agency, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Artsakh (RA), and the RA Fund for Rural and Agricultural Support. The application process has already started.

Owners of greenhouses with an area of 300 square meters or more can become beneficiaries of the program. They can submit their applications to the professional committee established by the RA Minister of Agriculture. 95 percent of the total cost of re-equipment of the greenhouses will be financed by the “We Are Our Mountains” agency through the Fund for Rural and Agricultural Support (of which 45 percent will be in the form of an interest-free loan) and 5 percent will be paid by the owner.

Questions related to the project and the direction of greenhouse development were also discussed at the meeting with Ruben Vardanyan, co-founder of the “We Are Our Mountains” agency, and members of the Artsakh Greenhouse Development Association. Speaking about the importance of the project from the perspective of ensuring food security in Artsakh, Vardanyan noted: “Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh forces us to take steps to ensure food self-sufficiency. This program solves several problems. It is important from the perspective of ensuring food security and future business development, as well as preserving jobs and creating new ones in Artsakh in this situation. The project will also contribute to the introduction of new standards in agriculture, which is extremely important with regard to the development of the sector. I am grateful to the agency’s donors, who will help solve such an important problem with their contributions.”

The “We Are Our Mountains” territorial development agency undertakes and implements development projects in Artsakh and Syunik in cooperation with the governments of the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia, as well as other local, international, and private organizations. The “We Are Our Mountains” territorial development agency was founded by Ruben Vardanyan and his colleagues.