On December 2–7, 2024, internationally recognized experts in the pig sector arrived in Armenia within the framework of the “Establishment of a functional Animal Identification and Registration System in Armenia” project funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and implemented by the CARD Foundation: Dr. Peter Knapp, Head of the Pig Austria organization, specialist in pig genetics and reproduction, and Johann Schlederer, President of the Austrian Pig Producers’ Association (VLV).
The main goal of the visit was to study the current state of the pig breeding sector in Armenia, present the Austrian system of pig identification and registration, assess the opportunities for the development of the sector, and transfer Austria’s many years of successful experience.
During the visit, the experts presented the history of the development of Austrian pig breeding, reflecting on the reforms implemented over the past three decades and the main stages of the development of the sector. They presented the structure and functions of the pig identification and registration system, the activities of the Austrian Pig Producers Association, as well as the importance of state support mechanisms in the sustainable development of the sector. The prospects for cooperation between Armenia and Austria, the possibilities of introducing modern technologies, best practices in ensuring animal welfare, care and effective management of farms were discussed.
During the visit, the experts, accompanied by the AIR project team, met with the Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Mrs. Tatevik Sargsyan. During the meeting, the current challenges of the pig breeding sector in Armenia, development prospects, and opportunities for expanding international cooperation were discussed. Then, they also visited the SmartAgro company, where Director Arman Ohanyan presented the company’s activities and the programs implemented in the sector.
The experts also visited several pig farms across Armenia, where they studied animal housing and care conditions, feeding methods, biosecurity measures, farm management approaches, and production processes. As a result of the visits, they formed a comprehensive understanding of the pig breeding sector in Armenia and presented practical, substantiated recommendations aimed at increasing productivity, improving farm management, and further developing the sector.
On December 4, a professional workshop was held at the Yerevan Marriott Hotel, during which the structure and organizational model of the Austrian pig farming system, the history of the sector’s development, the pig identification and registration system, as well as modern technological and production solutions were presented.
The workshop was attended by representatives of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Center for Agricultural Services SNCO, the Food Safety Inspection Body of the Republic of Armenia, the Ani Pas system, and the CARD Foundation, as well as farmers and agricultural specialists. The presentations were followed by an active discussion and question-and-answer session, during which the participants raised a number of issues related to the sector, presented existing problems and discussed their possible solutions. The Austrian experts provided professional advice and practical recommendations, and the discussions contributed to the exchange of experience and created a basis for further expansion of professional cooperation between Armenia and Austria.
