Valley Armenians Unite to Welcome Ag Minister
*Community Rallies Around Tavit Lokian to hear about the homeland and find out how to help out Armenian farmers
by Paul Chaderjian
Asbarez
(Fresno) -- "For me, it's very important to meet with people who work on the land, the people who work with the laborers who work on the farms," said Armenia's Ag Minister Tavit Lokian at a posh banquet in his honor in Fresno last week. "As a Minister of the people, I have to be that type of person."
At the private dinner, sponsored by the Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF), the Minister was able to do just what he had hoped to do – to meet and talk openly with the farmers and community leaders who have put Central California on the global map of agriculture. According to the California Farm Bureau, the region's ag industry has generated an average of 16 billion dollars of revenue annually.
Lokian spent two-days in California's San Joaquin Valley -- dubbed by locals as the breadbasket to the world -- to learn what makes local farmers and packers so successful and able to compete in the international marketplace.
The visit, organized jointly by the ACF and the Armenian Technology Group (ATG), allowed the Minister to tour both large and small scale agri-businesses, farms, packing houses and meet with scientists and public officials, who represent the farming community in the State and Federal governments.
"Minister Lokian talked about a vibrant Armenia and a vibrant outlook for Armenia," said Hovig Saliba, who attended the banquet as the representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee. "With the help of the Diaspora, and with the transfer of agricultural technology and the know-how that local farmers can provide, Armenia can make huge leaps and grow in productivity a lot faster than if it was left all alone to do."
Before the by invitation only gathering at George's Banquet Hall in Central Fresno, Minister Lokian visited the Ag Pavilion at the Big Fresno Fair on its opening day. The Fresno Fair is a local, agricultural tradition that dates back to 120 years, a place where the farming community has celebrated its bounty and showed off its best of the best.
"We obviously have a great representation of what's grown here in the greater Fresno area," said David Nalchajian, the Chief Executive Office of the Fresno Fair. "And to have him here is a great honor for the fair. We appreciate him, coming and taking the time."
Fresno television stations videotaped the Minister and interviewed ATG's Varoujan Der Simonian during the Minister's tour of the Ag Pavilion, where the Minister was awed by the dozens of varieties of produce. The Minister commented on display of fourteen varieties of apples grown in Fresno County saying that in Armenia there are only three.
"I hope our general friendliness, and certainly, the massive varieties of fruits and vegetables that we grow, and the overall impact this impact has on the agricultural world will impress him most," said Nalchajian. "I'm sure he knows much more about agriculture than any of us, but I hope he takes away the impact of what Fresno County produces and certainly the Armenian population's contribution to that gross production."
"What we are trying to impress upon the Minister and farmers there is to lengthen the time of the crop and increase the variety of their crops," said Manas Boujikian, a farmer and businessman, who foot the bill for the Minister's banquet. "They have to lengthen the time of their crop, and the only way to do that is to introduce newer varieties. All they have to do is get a few seedlings and multiply them."
Boujikian says Armenia produces a large quantity of apricots, but the crop matures and disappears in a few weeks. "There is an over supply during the two weeks when the crop is ripened and people get tired of it, and three weeks later there isn't any." Boujikian says by offering farmers a variety of seeds, different varieties will ripen at different times and the picking season will lengthen, offering farmers a longer window to pack and market their fruits.
Speaking to those gathered at the banquet, the Minister first thanked his hosts, the ACF and ATG and then thanked the United States government for providing more than 15 million dollars a year in support to Armenia's farmers. The Minister said because of the assistance provided through the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Agency for International Development and the Armenian Technology Group, Armenia's farmer are improving their productivity and quality of produce.
"I am fascinated by the local community," the Minister told those in the audience. "It's a very experienced and knowledgeable community, and I am fascinated that your community places the highest values on both remaining Armenian and being an important part of American society."
Local officials attending the banquet were equally complimentary about the Minister. Fresno City Councilman Tom Boyajian was encouraged about the relationship between the US and Armenia. "It seems like we're doing better as a government, working with the Armenians to help their country," said Boyajian. "We haven't had that collaboration in a long time, so it's really encouraging. The Minister was also trying to encourage foreign investment in the country, and its seems like the gross national product is doing much better. That was really encouraging."
"It sounds like he has a realistic handle on things," said agri-businessman Bryan Bedrosian. "He came with a very good attitude; I appreciate that. Hopefully when I go to Armenia in the next year, I'll be able to visit him and know him a little more, understand just exactly what opportunities there are."
"I would like somebody to create a facility, a packing house, a facility where all growers can bring their product in for packing and get paid," said Phillip Parnagian. "They can derive some income and employ people and generate some income for themselves. And not just one or two people, but many growers. And I think that will be very good for the economy."
"We have a unique opportunity in Fresno to help Armenia prosper," said ACF Chairman Viken Yepremian. "Agriculture makes up 25 percent of Armenia's Gross Domestic Product and the Armenians in Fresno can have a direct effect in helping the lives of farmers in Armenia. Improving that 25 percent of the economy will touch the lives of all three million Armenians living in the homeland, and we should take that opportunity and really do our best, whatever is within our capabilities to help the farmers in the homeland."
"I think the gathering in itself is a momentous event," said Saliba. "I've come to Fresno on many occasions, and I've seen these faces at separate events, but I've never seen all the faces together at the same event. And that's the secret of having a free and independent Armenia. That's the secret of independence, where all Armenians gather all around the main focus and that focus is the homeland, the government of our homeland and the representatives of the citizens of our homeland. I'm very happy. It's a very exciting event."
*end*
by Paul Chaderjian
Asbarez
(Fresno) -- "For me, it's very important to meet with people who work on the land, the people who work with the laborers who work on the farms," said Armenia's Ag Minister Tavit Lokian at a posh banquet in his honor in Fresno last week. "As a Minister of the people, I have to be that type of person."
At the private dinner, sponsored by the Armenian Cultural Foundation (ACF), the Minister was able to do just what he had hoped to do – to meet and talk openly with the farmers and community leaders who have put Central California on the global map of agriculture. According to the California Farm Bureau, the region's ag industry has generated an average of 16 billion dollars of revenue annually.
Lokian spent two-days in California's San Joaquin Valley -- dubbed by locals as the breadbasket to the world -- to learn what makes local farmers and packers so successful and able to compete in the international marketplace.
The visit, organized jointly by the ACF and the Armenian Technology Group (ATG), allowed the Minister to tour both large and small scale agri-businesses, farms, packing houses and meet with scientists and public officials, who represent the farming community in the State and Federal governments.
"Minister Lokian talked about a vibrant Armenia and a vibrant outlook for Armenia," said Hovig Saliba, who attended the banquet as the representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee. "With the help of the Diaspora, and with the transfer of agricultural technology and the know-how that local farmers can provide, Armenia can make huge leaps and grow in productivity a lot faster than if it was left all alone to do."
Before the by invitation only gathering at George's Banquet Hall in Central Fresno, Minister Lokian visited the Ag Pavilion at the Big Fresno Fair on its opening day. The Fresno Fair is a local, agricultural tradition that dates back to 120 years, a place where the farming community has celebrated its bounty and showed off its best of the best.
"We obviously have a great representation of what's grown here in the greater Fresno area," said David Nalchajian, the Chief Executive Office of the Fresno Fair. "And to have him here is a great honor for the fair. We appreciate him, coming and taking the time."
Fresno television stations videotaped the Minister and interviewed ATG's Varoujan Der Simonian during the Minister's tour of the Ag Pavilion, where the Minister was awed by the dozens of varieties of produce. The Minister commented on display of fourteen varieties of apples grown in Fresno County saying that in Armenia there are only three.
"I hope our general friendliness, and certainly, the massive varieties of fruits and vegetables that we grow, and the overall impact this impact has on the agricultural world will impress him most," said Nalchajian. "I'm sure he knows much more about agriculture than any of us, but I hope he takes away the impact of what Fresno County produces and certainly the Armenian population's contribution to that gross production."
"What we are trying to impress upon the Minister and farmers there is to lengthen the time of the crop and increase the variety of their crops," said Manas Boujikian, a farmer and businessman, who foot the bill for the Minister's banquet. "They have to lengthen the time of their crop, and the only way to do that is to introduce newer varieties. All they have to do is get a few seedlings and multiply them."
Boujikian says Armenia produces a large quantity of apricots, but the crop matures and disappears in a few weeks. "There is an over supply during the two weeks when the crop is ripened and people get tired of it, and three weeks later there isn't any." Boujikian says by offering farmers a variety of seeds, different varieties will ripen at different times and the picking season will lengthen, offering farmers a longer window to pack and market their fruits.
Speaking to those gathered at the banquet, the Minister first thanked his hosts, the ACF and ATG and then thanked the United States government for providing more than 15 million dollars a year in support to Armenia's farmers. The Minister said because of the assistance provided through the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Agency for International Development and the Armenian Technology Group, Armenia's farmer are improving their productivity and quality of produce.
"I am fascinated by the local community," the Minister told those in the audience. "It's a very experienced and knowledgeable community, and I am fascinated that your community places the highest values on both remaining Armenian and being an important part of American society."
Local officials attending the banquet were equally complimentary about the Minister. Fresno City Councilman Tom Boyajian was encouraged about the relationship between the US and Armenia. "It seems like we're doing better as a government, working with the Armenians to help their country," said Boyajian. "We haven't had that collaboration in a long time, so it's really encouraging. The Minister was also trying to encourage foreign investment in the country, and its seems like the gross national product is doing much better. That was really encouraging."
"It sounds like he has a realistic handle on things," said agri-businessman Bryan Bedrosian. "He came with a very good attitude; I appreciate that. Hopefully when I go to Armenia in the next year, I'll be able to visit him and know him a little more, understand just exactly what opportunities there are."
"I would like somebody to create a facility, a packing house, a facility where all growers can bring their product in for packing and get paid," said Phillip Parnagian. "They can derive some income and employ people and generate some income for themselves. And not just one or two people, but many growers. And I think that will be very good for the economy."
"We have a unique opportunity in Fresno to help Armenia prosper," said ACF Chairman Viken Yepremian. "Agriculture makes up 25 percent of Armenia's Gross Domestic Product and the Armenians in Fresno can have a direct effect in helping the lives of farmers in Armenia. Improving that 25 percent of the economy will touch the lives of all three million Armenians living in the homeland, and we should take that opportunity and really do our best, whatever is within our capabilities to help the farmers in the homeland."
"I think the gathering in itself is a momentous event," said Saliba. "I've come to Fresno on many occasions, and I've seen these faces at separate events, but I've never seen all the faces together at the same event. And that's the secret of having a free and independent Armenia. That's the secret of independence, where all Armenians gather all around the main focus and that focus is the homeland, the government of our homeland and the representatives of the citizens of our homeland. I'm very happy. It's a very exciting event."
*end*
