FAO empowers displaced families from Nagorno-Karabakh through land access and agricultural livelihoods in Armenia

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Armenia convened an expert-level technical roundtable today to spotlight early successes and chart the future of land access and consolidation initiatives supporting displaced families from Nagorno-Karabakh. Held in Yerevan, the event brought together representatives from Armenia’s Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, development partners including France, Japan, and the EU, as well as project beneficiaries and UN agencies.

The roundtable highlighted FAO’s twin-track approach: restoring agricultural activity for displaced families while laying the groundwork for long-term rural development through land reform. Participants discussed pathways for scaling up this model, drawing on lessons from Armenia and other regions.

Complementing the main discussions, a photo exhibition shared beneficiary stories, and Aygedzor-based “Eco Garden” company – supported under the FAO-EU “Local Empowerment of Actors for Development in Lori and Tavush” project – presented its work, showcasing the role of rural enterprises in generating employment for both refugees and host communities.

Since the September 2023 displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, FAO has taken urgent action to support agricultural reintegration. Many displaced families arrived with farming knowledge but lacked access to land and tenure rights. To address this, FAO launched the Technical Cooperation Programme titled “Support Access to Land through Lease Facilitation and Consolidation.”

Implemented in Tavush and Lori marzes – areas marked by high land abandonment – the initiative connects landowners, local authorities, and displaced families to repurpose unused land. It promotes voluntary land consolidation to create more coherent, efficient, and economically viable farm structures. Beyond productivity, the initiative aims to rebuild lives and strengthen rural communities.

The refugee households which have secured land access through lease or purchase agreements are cultivating already grapes, fruits, cereals, and other crops, contributing to local food systems and reviving abandoned farmland and having.

“After arriving from Nagorno-Karabakh, I wasn’t sure how to begin again,” said Andranik Harutyunyan, now a grape farmer in Tavush. “Thanks to FAO’s support, this year’s harvest helped me buy a car to expand my business. It’s a small but vital step toward rebuilding our lives.”

FAO’s support builds on its longstanding role as a technical partner in Armenia’s land reform. Drawing from regional experience in the Western Balkans and pilot projects, FAO advocates for multi-purpose land consolidation – an approach also emphasized at the 2022 FIG Congress – to achieve sustainable rural development through improved land tenure, infrastructure, environmental resilience, and social inclusion.

Armenia’s agricultural landscape is still evolving, but through collaborative, evidence-based efforts, the country is turning land fragmentation into an opportunity for inclusive growth and recovery.