From September 14-15, with the support of the EU, 8 successful entrepreneurs from Keda and Tsalka municipalities participated in the international festival taking place in Yerevan. The Capital of Armenia hosted the “Harvest Festival of Rural Life and Traditions.” Up to 100 international guests from various countries attended the event dedicated to entrepreneurial development.

A women’s group from Keda municipality presented various products from mountainous Adjara, such as wine, jams, nuts, cheese, and spices. In addition, honey and different types of Georgian cheese were exhibited and sold by farmers from Tsalka municipality.

Besides official festival events, the participants had an opportunity to visit an organic farm and Green Center operated by Green Lane NGO on the outskirts of the city of Yerevan. In addition, on the way back to Georgia, participants visited the village of Khashtarak, where one of the ENPARD Armenia beneficiaries hosted Georgian women in her raspberry garden and shared her experience about joining the Rural Women’s Council (RWC) established under the joint efforts of CENN and Green Lane in the framework of the project “Strengthening and Engagement of Rural Women in Natural Resources Management in the South Caucasus Countries.”

The visit was made possible with EU support under the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development – ENPARD Georgia. The camp was organized by two ENPARD projects – EMBRACE Tsalka and Keda LEADER – implemented by CENN.

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural populations that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge.