On January 23, within the framework of "Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes (IADAAM) project, the module series “New Extensionist Learning Kit” has launched, led by Avenue Consulting Group’s Senior Management Consultant Anna Mkhitaryan.

The modules are intended for agricultural extension service coordinators, experts and local government representatives of the Ararat and Armavir marzes of the Republic of Armenia.

The 13-module series aim to introduce the key skills required of a new extension professional, rural support methods, toolkit, program management and role in value chain support. The module series focuses on community mobilization, farmer organizational and agricultural entrepreneurship development, gender, as well as risk mitigation and adaptation issues in Extension and Advisory services.

The first course in the modular series was launched with a welcoming speech by Sergey Matevosyan, Deputy Team Leader of the "Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir Marzes" (IADAAM) project, who emphasized the role of the rural support advisor and the importance of the latter's application of modern and innovative approaches and tools, as well as the importance of cooperation between all actors in the value chain.

Agricultural support experts Wilhelm Kruse and Paruyr Asatryan also delivered introductory speeches, emphasizing the imperative of studying and purposefully borrowing international experience.

Irrigated Agriculture Development in Ararat and Armavir marzes (IADAAM) project, financed through the European Union (EU) with implementation by the French Development Agency (AFD) is an integrated initiative aimed at transforming irrigated agriculture in Armenia.

Within the IADAAM project a technical assistance component is implemented jointly by Agriconsulting Europe S.A, Avenue Consulting Group LLC, Strategic Development Agency NGO and 3R Strategy LLC consortium and aims to provide institutional support to the Ministry of Economy (MoE) in the formulation of agricultural policies and reforms in priority areas.