Beneficiaries of the UNDP ‘Sustainable Communities’ programme received professional equipment support through the ‘Chir-Chir’ project.
Within the framework of the “Chir-Chir” project, four beneficiaries from the Ararat, Vayots Dzor, and Kotayk marzes received production equipment for drying, including stainless steel furniture, electric dryers, and hanging nets for drying. Thanks to the new professional equipment, the project beneficiaries will be able to increase production volume and improve product quality.
Narine Hovhannisyan, from the village of Ptghni in the Kotayk region, decided six years ago to start a business making dried fruit from her country house’s harvest.
“My friends always tell me that when we come to your house, there is always nothing on the table. I also decided to turn it into a business. The property and equipment received through the ‘Chir-Chir’ project will ease and facilitate the process of making dried fruit. I can now produce better quality products and triple the production volume,” says Narine Hovhannisyan, a beneficiary of the “Chir-Chir” project.
All project participants undergo professional training, participating in both theoretical and practical courses. Another beneficiary, Narine Kyureghyan, noticed the increase in tourist traffic in her native Areni settlement, where visitors stopped to taste the local fruits. This inspired her to prepare dried fruit in addition to fresh fruit.
“Ten years ago, for the first time, I tried to make cheese from my garden’s harvest. As the flow of tourists increased in our residence, there was always a surplus from the garden, no matter how much wine and vodka we made. I decided not to let the harvest spoil and to prepare dried fruit instead. As soon as I found out about the project, I immediately applied and became one of the lucky beneficiaries,” she said.
Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh are also among the “Chir-Chir” project beneficiaries. In 2020, Almara Harutyunyan settled in Hnaberd, Ararat marz. Initially, she had no source of income and decided to start her own business from scratch, focusing on her favorite hobby—knitting.
