Potatoes bring hope & good harvest to flood-affected family
Vachagan Araqelyan, 66, recalls the devastating flood of the previous spring as a nightmare. “The water washed away all our potato seeds and we were afraid that soon we would have nothing to eat”, remembers Vachagan.Just like the Araqelyan family, most families in Gegharkunik Village in Armenia’s Gavar Region were left without any stored food and potato seeds to be planted for the following year.
For Gegharkunik villagers, having no potato seeds for the next year means having no food and no source of income for a whole year “For Gegharkunik villagers, having no potato seeds for the next year means having no food and no source of income for a whole year. It was terrible”, says Vachagan.
Vachagan’s seven-member family lives on the income generated from potato cultivation. His two sons and daughters-in-law help Vachagan to till the land, plant the seeds, water and generally tend the land until it brings a good harvest and sustainability for the family.
Vachagan’s wife, Lusin, 60, was a helping hand to her husband for years, but due to poor health she now needs professional care and attention. For the family it is also of crucial importance to earn some money for Lusin’s treatment.
Vachagan remembers the details around the flood well and he also remembers the panic of his co-villagers who feared that they would face famine. “My granddaughter was only two years old when the flood happened, I was afraid we would not be able to nourish her properly”, remembers Lusin.
Potato is an important crop for Gavar Region, since it is among the few that grows in the infertile land and can withstand the severe mountain climate of the region. Most of the households of Gavar Region cultivate potatoes, which help them to survive through the harsh winters.
“For many families in our village potato is everything- it is their bread, it is their income”, explains Vachagan.
World Vision was among the first to help the flood-affected community and to address the most important issue for the villagers – potato seeds.
“We have distributed potato seeds to some 150 families in four communities in Gavar Region to help them survive through those harsh conditions”, says Vardan Aghajanyan, Gavar Area Development Programme (ADP) Manager.
I have planted 500kg of potato seeds and of course this year I will double and even triple my harvest “I have planted 100kg of seeds and I received 1 tonne of potatoes. It is an outstanding result. The seeds were so good they gave such a good result”, explains Vachagan. Vachagan kept half of his harvest as seed and the other half as food for the whole winter.
This year Vachagan has enlarged the amount of the potato to be planted. “I have planted 500kg of potato seeds and of course this year I will double and even triple my harvest”, he says proudly.
“The seed has become accustomed to our climate and land; this year the harvest will be incredibly good. Vachagan has big plans for the future; with the income he receives from this year’s harvest, he will buy wheat seeds and start wheat cultivation. “If we have our own wheat, we can bake fresh bread and we will also have some for sale”, explains Vachagan. “That will indeed be a good source of income for my family”.
For Gegharkunik villagers, having no potato seeds for the next year means having no food and no source of income for a whole year “For Gegharkunik villagers, having no potato seeds for the next year means having no food and no source of income for a whole year. It was terrible”, says Vachagan.
Vachagan’s seven-member family lives on the income generated from potato cultivation. His two sons and daughters-in-law help Vachagan to till the land, plant the seeds, water and generally tend the land until it brings a good harvest and sustainability for the family.
Vachagan’s wife, Lusin, 60, was a helping hand to her husband for years, but due to poor health she now needs professional care and attention. For the family it is also of crucial importance to earn some money for Lusin’s treatment.
Vachagan remembers the details around the flood well and he also remembers the panic of his co-villagers who feared that they would face famine. “My granddaughter was only two years old when the flood happened, I was afraid we would not be able to nourish her properly”, remembers Lusin.
Potato is an important crop for Gavar Region, since it is among the few that grows in the infertile land and can withstand the severe mountain climate of the region. Most of the households of Gavar Region cultivate potatoes, which help them to survive through the harsh winters.
“For many families in our village potato is everything- it is their bread, it is their income”, explains Vachagan.
World Vision was among the first to help the flood-affected community and to address the most important issue for the villagers – potato seeds.
“We have distributed potato seeds to some 150 families in four communities in Gavar Region to help them survive through those harsh conditions”, says Vardan Aghajanyan, Gavar Area Development Programme (ADP) Manager.
I have planted 500kg of potato seeds and of course this year I will double and even triple my harvest “I have planted 100kg of seeds and I received 1 tonne of potatoes. It is an outstanding result. The seeds were so good they gave such a good result”, explains Vachagan. Vachagan kept half of his harvest as seed and the other half as food for the whole winter.
This year Vachagan has enlarged the amount of the potato to be planted. “I have planted 500kg of potato seeds and of course this year I will double and even triple my harvest”, he says proudly.
“The seed has become accustomed to our climate and land; this year the harvest will be incredibly good. Vachagan has big plans for the future; with the income he receives from this year’s harvest, he will buy wheat seeds and start wheat cultivation. “If we have our own wheat, we can bake fresh bread and we will also have some for sale”, explains Vachagan. “That will indeed be a good source of income for my family”.
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