Agricultural expert highlights the problem of Upper Lars border checkpoint for Armenian exporters

YEREVAN, June 16. /ARKA/. According to an agricultural expert Garnik Petrosyan, the coronavirus pandemic and late spring frosts and hails have caused serious problems for agriculture.

He said only 20 thousand tons of high-quality apricots from a total crop of 50-55 thousand tons will be suitable for export, and the rest will not be of high commercial quality. The expert emphasized that these are a general assessment of the situation. 

Also, he said, a low yield of peaches and cherries is expected. Petrosyan said the export problem has always been one of the most imperative caused this year by the coronavirus pandemic and the obstacles artificially created at the Upper Lars border checkpoint for Armenian importers.

“The Upper Lars checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border is the biggest obstacle Armenian importers are forced to overcome, despite the fact that we are a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union," he said.

According to Petrosyan, Armenia cannot resolve this issue alone. He urged the Armenian government to raise this issue during the EEU meetings, as well as in the framework of various discussions.

Petrosyan said farmers growing potatoes, fruits and vegetables will be forced to sell their produces at a price below cost, if these obstacles are not removed.
 
“It is necessary by all means to promote the organization of exports, so that the market is balanced, and people employed in agriculture can sell goods at normal prices in the domestic and foreign markets. Otherwise, we will have serious problems,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Economy, in 2019, the export of agricultural products from Armenia exceeded 141,200 tons. -0-

Read the news first and discuss them in our Telegram

18:12 06/16/2020