Within the framework of the “Fruitful Soil” initiative of the UNDP Sustainable Communities programme, a professional training course on “Assessment of Soil and Irrigation Water Quality, Improving Soil Fertility and Effective Plant Nutrition” was held in the main hall of the Masis Municipality.

A total of 104 residents from 19 settlements of Masis community participated in the training, including 36 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, 54 women and 50 men. Participants gained practical knowledge and skills in assessing soil and irrigation water quality, improving soil fertility, and ensuring effective plant nutrition.

During the training, experts presented the main challenges characteristic of the soils of the Ararat Valley and ways to address them. They also discussed the importance of laboratory analyses of soil and irrigation water and the interpretation of their results. Topics also included the effective use of organic and mineral fertilisers, fertigation through drip irrigation, compost preparation and application, the use of biological preparations and micronutrients, as well as water-saving irrigation technologies.

At the end of the training, participants were given the opportunity to receive free soil analysis within the framework of the initiative. This will enable residents engaged in agriculture to assess the condition of their soil and use the results to organise soil cultivation and plant nutrition more effectively.

The “Fruitful Soil” initiative is implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Government of Japan within the framework of “The Project for Promoting Agricultural Development for Displaced Karabakh Armenians and Affected Host Communities in Armenia”.