Project description

Title: Training and Upgrading in the Agricultural Sector
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Education in Azerbaijan, Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Georgia, Ministry of Agriculture in Armenia
Overall term: October 2002 to September 2010

Context

In Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, agriculture is traditionally one of the most important economic sectors. Producers, however, lack not only agricultural production equipment, but also the necessary technical expertise and management and marketing skills. The training system in the agricultural sector is unable to supply the skilled workers and managers urgently needed to build a market-oriented agricultural system.  The training offered lags behind agricultural reforms.

Objective

At selected agriculture education institutions in the three countries, students, graduates and workers will be trained as technical and managerial personnel for the farming sector. This will support the privatisation process in agriculture and create framework conditions favourable to market-oriented, sustainable farming. New jobs are expected to reduce rural-urban migration.

Approach

Agriculture management courses are being introduced at technical schools, colleges and vocational schools. Teaching methods and subject matter are geared to the needs of  privatised smallholder agriculture. Similarly, advanced courses will be offered at the agricultural universities  of the three countries. Instructors and lecturers are to teach agroeconomic production techniques in a practice-oriented way. Graduates of the national agricultural universities will receive further training as multipliers at the Weihenstephan technical university in Triesdorf, Germany. They will then ensure the teaching of technical subjects at their home universities.