Harvest Festival in Armenia Date in the current year: October 13, 2024

Agriculture is one of the main sectors of Armenia’s economy. More than 70% of the country’s land area is agricultural land, although most of this is pastures. Most of Armenia’s cultivable land is located in the Ararat plain that yields 40% of the country’s farm production. The main crops cultivated in Armenia include wheat, barley, grapes, potatoes, vegetables, tobacco, apricots, peaches, plums, cherry plums, cherries, apples, pears, quince, silverberries, cornelian cherries, figs, pomegranates, olives, and walnuts.

Livestock breeding is also an important sector of agriculture in Armenia. Cattle is mostly bred in valleys (for example, the Lori Plateau), while extensive mountain pastures are used for sheep breeding. Fish farming and commercial fishing are developed too, although the volumes of the latter have declined over the past few years due to the urgent need to preserve the biodiversity of Lake Sevan.

The inaugural harvest festival in Armenia was held in the town of Masis in 2006. It coincided with the visit of President Robert Kocharyan. Farmers from 93 villages and four communities of the Ararat Province set 97 tables to showcase local produce: lavishly decorated baskets with fruit and vegetables, baked goods and dairy products, meat and fish delicacies, sweets, drinks, and more. And the president found the time to pay personal attention to each of the tables!

Since then, the annual harvest festival has become a good tradition. On the second Sunday in October, fairs are held in all agricultural regions, where Armenian farmers showcase their produce. The best farmers from all over the country participate in the annual fair in Yerevan, which, in addition to being the country’s biggest agricultural showcase, has become an important networking event for Armenian farmers.