As a nation Armenia is noted for being the first state to declare Christianity as its official religion. It happened 1700 years ago and it is considered a defining moment in Armenia’s history.

Today, Armenia can become even more famous if it declares itself the first sovereign government to transform its country into a totally green and self sufficient land.

Whatever weaknesses Armenia has by being landlocked with antagonistic governments almost on three quarters of its borders, lacking an oil industry, depending on Russia for its national security, having a weak economy and a dwindling population, these weaknesses can be incentives to transform into a completely self sufficient, green economy.

My point is that research and development of green technologies has already been done. What remains is the will to implement and adapt those technologies for the Armenian rural farmer and eventually the city dwellers. Armenia does not have to reinvent the wheel. It can benefit from the work of many pioneer researchers. What the researchers of green technologies need is the possibility to demonstrate on a national level that their technologies are viable for an entire country and not just an academic phenomenon for isolated cases.

Armenia is the ideal venue for such a national development.

If the government of Armenia set a goal of ten years or more for such a transformation, it is sure that many organizations and governments would help it in such a brave and important experiment that may serve as a vanguard for a new green world of environmentally responsible countries.

Armenia has a small population for its land mass. Most of its land is mountainous. Due to difficult economic times, the population of its villages is gradually dwindling. It is difficult for the villagers to maintain a sustainable income. There are also drought problems and sometimes water shortages that complicate life in the villages. Armenia, being landlocked, has limited ability to manufacture goods and export them. One can understand that self sufficiency should be the primary concern for the Armenian people for survival of the nation.

Going green and striving for self sufficiency is a reachable goal. It can be done by beginning on a small scale experiment in remote villages. It is imperative to revitalize the village economy with green technologies such as developing self sufficient recycling of animal dung for producing organic fertilizer, methane gas for powering electricity and running tractors and cars.
Research and development has already been done in Europe, India, and Cuba on using cow dung and other animal feces for production of methane gas for powering energy needs. Also using bulls for plowing and other heavy work is a necessary asset for self sufficient farming. Setting up a small scale efficient methane gas production facility on a farm is one key aspect for rural self sufficiency. Foreign companies and government agencies can help the village farmers in Armenia develop the green technologies to set up such grass roots facilities.

Teaching sustainable, organic farming techniques is another important aspect of the rural farm development program. Promoting the health and well being of the rural population by training them to not depend on artificial fertilizers and chemicals in their farming techniques is a key factor. The natural health of the people depends on the intake of high quality, nutritious organic foods. Organic oil seeds are another part of the green economy. Such low cost oils, if produced in quantity, can serve to power diesel engines. It may be possible for a farmer to produce enough vegetable oil to power his diesel machines for the entire year. Such technologies exist. They need to be made available to the rural farmers. Inexpensive hydrogen/oxygen production units can help rural farmers increase the efficiency of oil or gas fuels. Such inexpensive units can be developed in Armenia with the help of foreign advisers.

There are many technologies available for inexpensive self sufficiency for rural farmers. Once a determination is made by Armenian thinkers and politicians for investing resources and energy into such a grand project, many resources can be developed from around the world for the benefit of the rural farmer.

Small scale experimental farms can be established in rural areas to adapt and perfect green technologies for use in Armenia. Once these experimental farms function successfully, the experiment can be spread to other areas of the country for the benefit of rural farmers. Helping the rural farmer with added value by the transformion of his production of natural products can also create more jobs in rural areas.

An essential aspect of rural development is cow protection and milk production. Animals such as cows are worth much more money alive than dead because of their dung which can be converted to methane gas and high quality fertilizer. After the animals die naturally, their meat can be used for human consumption. The elimination of unnecessary violence is important for the environment and consciousness of the nation. Domesticated animals are worth much more alive than dead when green technologies are available to profit from their dung.

There is a dynamic relationship between the ethical treatment of the land and animals and the environment. Researchers such
as Rudolph Steiner and others have demonstrated through biodynamic growing techniques that respecting the natural cycles of nature along with the respect of life can increase significantly agricultural production and the quality of food. Such products support health and longevity as well as sustainable natural environment. Much research and development has already been done in this field. Armenian farmers can benefit from these techniques. After all, the bottom line for a farmer is making a sustainable living from the land. If we can demonstrate that a rural farmer’s economic and physical well being are considerably enhanced, then it will be a natural process changing over Armenian farmers to sustainable green technologies for farming and secondary transformation of food products by grass roots, rural industries. A nation that can feed its population without dependence on foreign imports is well on its way to independence from foreign influence.

A friend of mine has developed a grass roots briquettes project for third world countries by which rural farmers can achieve a degree of energy independence by making energy bricks from biological by-products of the farm. Ben Bryant, a retired University Professor, has a non-profit organization called Appropriate Briquettes International Technology (ATBI) which is dedicated to making bagel-size briquettes without a binder from agricultural residues (leaves, straws and grasses) and industrial and urban waste materials. These briquettes can be used in place of firewood for cooking and heating purposes. This is just one example to demonstrate that there are many non profit organizations that can make available inexpensive green technologies for rural development.

There are many secondary industries that can evolve from a green, organic farming and animal protection. Growing organic foods and transforming them into packaged organic food items is a growing and lucrative industry with added value when exported to more affluent countries. The label “Certified Organic” adds value commercially to food products. Even the meat of animals fed organic natural feed (without slaughterhouse additives) and protected until their natural death is more valuable and healthy than slaughterhouse meat from industrial production facilities.

Other sources of energy production such as wind and sun and natural vegetable oil for diesel engines can transform the rural farm communities into a powerhouse of economic activity. Investment into the infrastructure for such development will be the crucial step for reaching a national conversion from conventional to a green economy. Armenian ingenuity and engineering skills can be put to work to develop efficient engines using vegetable oil or other alternative home grown fuel sources. Once the emphasis is put on green technologies and the future time table for completion of the transformation is made, the best minds in Armenia can be put to work to develop the most efficient systems for the task. Many experts from foreign countries will gladly participate to help Armenian engineers accomplish their tasks of conversion to green technologies.

Many new technologies can develop from the Armenian Green Experiment that will have world significance. This will place the little country of Armenia at the forefront of the new green world of environmentally responsible nations. Armenia will be reborn as the “gunanch yergir” or the Green Country.