Armenian farmers continue to work profitably despite grain price drop - Kerobyan

YEREVAN, August 25. /ARKA/. Despite a drop in grain prices, grain farmers in Armenia are not affected and continue to work with profit, Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan said today.

He recalled that the government had provided substantial assistance to grain growing farmers.

He added that last year, the spring sowing program appeared to be quite successful despite the hostilities in September that did not allow the program to be fully implemented in Gegharkunik and Sisian provinces.

'Nevertheless, about 13 thousand more hectares of land were cultivated and the government subsidized a certain amount for each hectare," Kerobyan said at a press briefing.

He noted that this amount played an important role in providing benefits to farmers. "Our contacts with farmers show that this support was of strategic importance so that farmers engaged in this business have an income," the minister said.

In response to a question that because of cheap Russian grain Armenian grain farmers cannot sell their crop even for 80 drams/kg, Kerobyan said that farmers will still have income when selling grain for that price.

"We have not heard of such problems. Our contacts show that despite a price drop, thanks to the volumes of our support, the farmers earn profit," the minister said. --0—