USAID and Peace Corps sponsored an agriculture and business training program in the Goy Gol region.
In Azerbaijan more than 15,300 farmers have benefited from NHE’s agricultural projects in Northwest Azerbaijan. Recently USAID sponsored a skills training project for farmers in NHE’s agricultural program. Twelve community members in Goygol Azerbaijan received agriculture training in proper feeding, cattle-breeding techniques and farm maintenance standards. Often lacking the proper computer, financial and technical skills required for social-upward mobility in a developing country, rural populations turn to employing farming practices to generate income. With no adequate training on farming standards or techniques, farmers in rural communities lack the capacity to produce quality and competitive dairy products.
Technical skills training.
NHE, by introducing both farm management and asset management on a demonstration farm, rural farmers are receiving both the technical skills to produce, maintain an income and attract future medium-financing. After attending trainings at the demonstration farm farmers were able to produce better products. This will increase their income potential and living standards. NHE recently completed a six months project combining business skills and agricultural skills in Goy Gol Azerbaijan. 
Benefiting farmers.
Six different farmer unions were represented throughout the trainings. Peace Corps and USAID partner to assist development projects in the region through a small-grants program geared towards funding projects where Peace Corps volunteers are present. As a result of this sponsorship, NHE was able to buy three cows, one of which had a heifer calf at time of purchase. The other two cows calved with bull calves. Overall, a total of six cows were produced benefiting 6 different farmer unions and twelve participants. Each union was given a cow to implement training techniques throughout the course of the agricultural course. Participants were able to keep the cows upon successful completion of the course.
