The Crisis and Solution in Armenian Agriculture

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. — Mark Twain

Armenia’s livestock sector is at a crossroads. Since 2014, the cattle population has decreased by 26%, from 677,500 to 501,500. Simultaneously, meat imports have remained steady, filling the gap left by declining local production. Over the past decade, Armenia has imported an average of 9–10 thousand tons of beef annually, covering 20% of domestic demand. Pork imports have reached 12,000 tons per year, meeting 50–60% of demand, while poultry imports, at 40,000 tons annually, account for 80% of consumption. Altogether, over half of Armenia’s meat needs are met by imports, signaling a systemic decline in local livestock farming.

The Root of the Problem

The traditional methods of livestock farming in Armenia have remained largely unchanged for decades. Farmers typically rely on building barns, purchasing or producing feed, and investing in equipment for tasks like feed distribution and manure management. This capital-intensive approach has rendered local meat production increasingly uncompetitive compared to cheaper imports.

The reason Armenian farmers struggle to compete with those in importing countries is rooted in a fundamental challenge: nearly every essential input—from construction materials and machinery to livestock and feed—is imported, driving up costs and eroding competitiveness.

Armenian farmers face high costs at every step: barns require costly construction materials, feed often depends on imported inputs, and equipment maintenance adds to the financial burden. Faced with mounting losses, many farmers sell off their livestock, leaving the industry or emigrating altogether. This cycle erodes not only Armenia’s agricultural capacity but also its rural communities.

Rethinking Assumptions

As Mark Twain’s observation suggests, it’s time to challenge the “truths” we’ve taken for granted in Armenian agriculture.

  1. The Barn Myth

Conventional wisdom dictates that livestock farming requires barns, often elaborate and expensive ones. However, livestock such as cattle, sheep, and pigs do not need fully enclosed structures. A simple three-sided shelter suffices to protect animals during rare combinations of extreme weather. Most of the year, livestock thrive outdoors, where they benefit from fresh air, sunlight, and space. Confining animals to barns often reduces productivity due to poor ventilation, humidity, and limited movement, increasing veterinary costs.

By eliminating the need for costly barns, farmers can significantly reduce their initial investment. This also aligns with animal welfare principles, as livestock kept outdoors in natural conditions are healthier and more resilient.

  1. Feed Dependency

A common practice is to buy feed, but in a country where over half the land consists of pasture, this is unnecessary. Armenia’s pastures can sustain grazing for 10–11 months annually with proper management. Unregulated grazing leads to pasture degradation, but regenerative grazing techniques can double pasture productivity and extend its usability throughout the year.

By managing pastures effectively, farmers can eliminate feed costs while maintaining high-quality nutrition for their livestock. This approach not only lowers expenses but also enhances soil health, biodiversity, and water retention, creating a sustainable cycle.

  1. Equipment Overload

Traditional livestock farming relies heavily on machinery for feed distribution, manure removal, and other tasks. These costs add up quickly. By adopting regenerative grazing practices, livestock become active participants in land management. They graze on rotation, fertilize the soil naturally, and reduce the need for mechanical intervention.

This shift allows farmers to focus resources on improving pasture quality rather than maintaining costly equipment. It also reduces environmental impacts, aligning with global trends toward sustainable agriculture.

A Proven Model: Regenerative Grazing in Armenia

Mountain High Farms, Armenia’s first regenerative grazing farm, demonstrates the viability of this approach. Raising high-demand breeds like Black Angus cattle and Dorper sheep, the farm achieves competitive weight gains without relying on purchased feed. By maintaining green pastures from March to December and reserving land for winter grazing, the farm minimizes feed costs. For the brief snow-covered months, hay serves as an economical supplement.

The results speak for themselves: improved pasture productivity, reduced input costs, healthier livestock, and an environmentally sustainable operation. This model leverages Armenia’s natural advantages, transforming challenges into opportunities.

Armenia’s livestock sector faces an existential threat, but the solution lies in rethinking the fundamentals. By discarding outdated practices and embracing regenerative methods, farmers can eliminate unnecessary costs such as barns and purchased feed, restore and enhance pasture productivity through rotational grazing, reduce reliance on imported inputs, making local meat more competitive, protect rural livelihoods and create sustainable agricultural systems.

The choice is clear. Armenia’s future in livestock farming depends on adopting smarter, more prudent practices. Regenerative grazing isn’t just an option; it’s the key to reviving an essential sector of the economy while preserving the country’s most valuable resource: its farmers.

Authored by Ashot Boghossian for Mountain High Farms

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