The “Fruitful Garden” initiative of the UNDP “Sustainable Communities” programme is aimed at enhancing the skills and capacities of residents engaged in horticulture. The initiative seeks to empower communities by creating sustainable livelihoods, improving food security, and promoting self-sufficiency among the rural population through the development of horticultural knowledge, skills, and competencies of residents in Armenia’s Syunik region.

The programme has launched capacity-building training sessions for residents of the Syunik region. The first training, which included both theoretical and practical components, covered all stages of the fruit production cycle. The initial two-day session took place in Goris on May 21–22. It was attended by 26 selected beneficiaries from the communities of Goris, Tatev, and Tegh. The practical part of the training was conducted in one of the orchards in the village of Verishen, Goris community. Participants were also provided with the manual “Fundamentals of Horticulture: A Practical Guide.”