One of the most valuable acquisitions “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC during its whole activity finds partnership with farmers – providers of milk.These relations began to develop from 2000, when in the mountainous regions of Armenia first centers of milk reception of the Company were being built.

The state of the farmers was not one of the best: small economy composed of 5-10 heads of cattle, lack of forage and problems connected with the realization of milk. Milk was either sold to the local cheese makers or after milking was used in the economy. A lot of farmers went to earn their living, leaving their native places.In the same time “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC has already worked out a strategy for creation of tooled system for the storage of the raw material for the high development of the production. There are no doubts that they have chosen farm economies of the mountainous regions of the country.

Coordinating the conditions of milk delivery with farmers on an agreement basis, the Company began long lasting and stable interrelations.  Mutual collaboration satisfies the requirements of both sides: the Company created a unique system for milk storage, while the life of farmers has changed into a better side – well provided market for milk realization and as a result stable income in definitely determined terms, not to mention about the outflow of rural population from the country has sharply reduced in number. Today “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC works with more than 5500 farm economies and these interrelations have not only business aims, but also social character: free services to veterinaries, repairs of schools and streets, assistance in gasification, etc.

Giving a solution to the main problem, connected with the realization of the raw material, farmers began to ranch, in such way broadening the limits of their economies. They bring out new spices by the way of artificial insemination, raise the quantity of cattle, and increase the quality of delivered milk using milk-making machines. In this sphere are well distinguished:

1. From region Shirak,Sizavet - Kotandjyan Zilim.
2. From region Aragatsotn,Ushi - Aleqsanyan Never; from Sasunik-Markaryan Arman.
3. From region Lori, Privolnoe-Saruxanyan Vazgen.
4. From region Gegharquniq, Mets Msrik-Mkrtchyan Aram; from Aghberq-Tsovyan Vladik; from Gavar-Apoyan Aramayis.
5. From region Syuniq, Gorayq-Arustamyan Samvel;from Sarnakunq- Arakelyan Lyudvig.
6. From region Vayots Dzor, Aghavnadzor-Esayan Shabo; Erpin-Nazaryan Artur.
7. From region Tavush, Verin Karmir Aghbyur-Mosinyan Vahan.
8. From region Armavir, Aknalich-Abrahamyan Lernik; from Dasht-Sarkisyan Samvel.
9. From region Kotayq-ZoravanAvdalyan Varujan.
10. From region Ararat, Lusashogh-Aleqsanyan Arsen.

In 2006 “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC entered in the International Diary Federation. International Diary Federation (IDF) is a non commercial organization, the activity of which is directed to the solution of scientific, technical and economic problems of diary industry in the international scale. The members of the Federation produce about 75% of diary products existing in the international market.

The activity of the federation comprises a range of questions, the aim of which is: the coordination of the international activity of the popularization of milk and diary products in the rational and healthy food; elaboration of international norms, standards and corresponding analytical methods for provision of the quality of milk diary products (this operation is realized collaborating with partner organizations - Commission FAO/FAZ Codex Alimentarius (elaboration of standards of the quality of food products), OIE and ISO); improvement of methods of farmer’s activity practice, growing of healthy cattle, hygiene and maintenance of milk and diary products; development of science and technologies, creation of platform for the discussion of newest economic tendencies, solution of marketing problems.

In fact Armenia became the fourth country (after Russia, Latvia and Lithuania) in post soviet area, which the diary federation paid attention to. By the way an intermediary in this deal became the Russian diary Federation, which is a member of IDF and collaborates with “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC during many years. The SRMI of diary industry made an examination of the products of “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC and showed the accordance of production with the international norms, so giving its recommendation to the Company becoming the member of IDF. 

 By the opinion of the president of Russian diary Federation B. Xaritonov, one of the main reasons of collaboration with Russian parties is the opportunity to leave one’s interests to the decision of IDF about the maintenance of national attributes, staunch defender of which is “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC. And besides all this is necessary for the economy of Armenia in the whole, because it’s really difficult to imagine effective strategy for the development of industry without having any knowledge about the tendencies in the world. Moreover, without having an admission to international arena, it’s hard to insist on the production of qualified Armenian products. We can reach to all this only with the help of IDF. And as IDF collaborates with UNO for the problems of food and agriculture (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International organization of standardization, the main obstacles (problems of certification and standardization) on the way of “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC in the international market can be overcome automatically.

“Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC becoming a member of IDF continues preserving all the best that has. This concerns firs of all to the ecologically pure products and national factor. The products of “Ashtarak- Kat” CJSC have a strong scientific basis, which together with unique system of milk procurement make the products of “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC safe, ecologically pure and useful.