Publisher's Synopsis
This Memoir supports an important thesis: The ultimate security of the U.S. depends on sustained economic development in the rest of the world. USDA Marketing Assistance Project (MAP) in Armenia did create sustained economic development and was recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as the best international development project of USDA (2002). The project went far beyond humanitarian aid. The MAP project was successful in creating jobs and in solving the Armenian food crisis. Success depended on developing a profitable and economically sustainable production-marketing system. Success of the project illustrated that development attempts can begin with market infrastructure and find feasible production that will support the market. Other successors to MAP imitated the way markets were developed by MAP can be the key to increased farm production. No doubt they will continue to have success using MAP's proven model and MAP's former clientele. But, in doing so, they have abandoned the broad base of science and education brought by MAP's use of expertise and professional experience of U.S. Land Grant Universities. That base still exists, however, in the institutions left behind. MAP left institutions behind that will continue the principles of market economy and democratic process long after U.S. advisers have left the country. The Agribusiness Teaching Center (ATC), Agricultural Extension in the Small Farm Water Management Center of ASAU, unique Credit Clubs who provided impetus for the first Credit Club Law of Armenia, ARID Goat Breeding Center, Village Youth Programs, graduate students educated in the U.S., and CARD (an NGO) have outreach functions that will serve Armenia for decades to come. MAP success in developing new firms has proved to be sustainable and similar success continues today in the Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (CARD) the NGO successor to the USDA project. MAP was the founder of CARD and CARD continues the MAP model. See: www.card.am The project was successful in creating the Agribusiness Teaching Center. It is a hallmark of development success. ATC is now a leading academic institution in Armenia that teaches the foundations of a market economy and a democratic society. See: www.icare.am
