The slowdown of the economic growth in Armenia during the recent years has posed newchallenges to the country’s agricultural development perspectives. The measures to tackle these challenges are set out in different policy papers elaborated by the Government of Armenia and international development partners. Taking into account the need for enhancing the efficiency of the use of agricultural resources in the country and improving the working conditions of economic operators, as well as the lack of specialist knowledge in the agrarian field, the need for improvements in the advisory field and dissemination and exchange of information about the sector, the local and international organizations involved in agriculture development sector of Armenia are establishing an Agriculture alliance aimed at contributing to the solution of the abovementioned problems with joint effort, through joint campaigns and exchange of information and experience about the implementing programs. On 6th of December, 2011, the representatives of Oxfam GB Armenia, UNDP Armenia, CARD, UMCOR, BSC Business Support center, ACDI/VOCA, RA MA Scientific Center for Vegetable-Melon and Technical Crops, “Horizon” foundation, FAO, VISTAA Plus, COAF, and “Protection of consumer rights” NGO will sign a Statement of Understanding, attaching importance to the need for more investments in the sector for boosting local agricultural production, as well as the priority of creating favorable conditions for the activities of agricultural cooperatives. The newly established Agriculture alliance stresses, among other issues, the need for enhancing access to new technologies, integrating the border communities into free economic zones, as well as introducing an insurance system in order to mitigate the risk of natural disasters for agriculture, as a precondition for the proportional development of the country. Taking into accountthe deficiencies of the seed-growing and thoroughbred cattle-breeding stationsand the need for establishing effective mechanisms,the Alliance attaches special importance to ensuring accessible crediting and leasing conditions for the majority of the farm economies by the current financial system. The newly established Agriculture alliance is open for cooperation and accession for all interested parties involved in the development of the agricultural sector in Armenia.

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