In the framework of the AgriThon *, we spoke with Anna Avagyan, the leader of the FarmFresh team, one of the 15 winning teams in the first round of Incubation Stage.

What did you get from participating in the first round of the AgriThon, what was especially important?

• I highly appreciate the work with mentors and, of course, the new knowledge and skills acquired. During the first stage of AgriThon we were able to clarify our business idea and see our strengths and weaknesses more clearly. I am also impressed with the level of professionalism of the jury.

The startup’s innovative idea is to combine production needs and market demand in one platform.

The project will be implemented on the basis of a greenhouse, the main task of which is to reduce heating costs to zero by using all available innovative ideas, as well as to reduce the loss of water resources.

The idea of FarmFresh was born at the end of 2020, when, on the initiative of a volunteer program, the team organized harvests in different villages. Summarizing the results of the needs and resource assessment, the team tried to focus on two main areas: (1) online sales of agricultural products and (2) production. The main beneficiaries of the sale are the representatives of the HoReCa regions and the IT sector of Yerevan. In terms of production, cooperation is planned mainly with young entrepreneurs/women who run small farms.

What impact will your project have?

• As a result of the first year of implementation, buyers will use quality, affordable and affordable agricultural products, consumers will have competitive prices and quality of agricultural products in the regions. Our beneficiaries’ revenues will increase as our sales revenue increases. Thus, with the implementation of the program we will help with the production and consumption of local quality food, and, due to the alternative heating system, farmers will have a cost reduction.

The team plans to start the sales platform programming phase in February, 2022, which will take 6 months. During this period, the design, construction and installation of the greenhouse will be carried out. The pilot test of the greenhouse will be done in Shirak region.

Project Name:  FarmFresh

Team Members: Anna Avagyan (team leader), Saten Minasyan, Hayk Melkonyan

Gyumri, Shirak marz

+37491700589, contact.anna.avagyan@gmail.com

 

AgriThon* is a competition/platform for startup ideas with innovative solutions in the field of agriculture, implemented by the ICARE-Armenia Foundation within the framework of the USAID-funded AGRI CAMP program.