Within the framework of its recently launched project “Support for Pesticide Quality Control and Residue Monitoring in Armenia”, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, organized a one-day seminar in Yerevan today.
Representatives from public, private and non-profit sectors discussed current situation and prospects of pesticide quality control and residue monitoring in Armenia and examined the steps that could lead to the resolution of the problems in this area as well as the contribution of the UN FAO.
One of the main objectives of the project is to enable Armenia to improve the quality control of pesticide products in line with the international standards and to carry out pesticide residue monitoring programmes in order to increase food safety, improve the quality of agricultural products and open new opportunities in food trade.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mr. Levon Rukhkyan stressed, “I find this project highly important for our country and I hope that the results of this discussion will become a significant milestone in the implementation of the project.”
The Greek Ambassador, Mr. Ioannis Korinthios, in his speech said that the priority in development assistance is in the agricultural sector, and Greece is currently sponsoring two projects through FAO, with a total budget of 3.600.000 USD and three other complementary projects of 1.400.000 USD. The program on the pesticides will protect the health of the farmers and consumers, and will contribute to the economic development of Armenia.
“Establishing high-tech laboratories under local conditions will be a demanding task requiring not only suitable laboratory premises and expensive equipment but also highly qualified staff and a proper operational budget to guarantee sustainability”, said Mr. Klaus Ziller, the UN FAO Chief Technical Adviser.
This two million US dollars project is fully sponsored by the Greek Government and is implemented by UN FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture over a period of three years.
