Armenian prime minister names reasons why to boost agriculture amid coronavirus outbreak
23.03.2020,
18:09
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired today a government meeting that looked into the agriculture-related problems, the government press service reported.
YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired today a government meeting that looked into the agriculture-related problems, the government press service reported. It quoted Pashinyan as saying that in the context of the coronavirus crisis, agriculture is becoming 'one of the most important and interesting areas of activity.'
“Under the new conditions, the importance of agriculture is determined by several reasons. Firstly, the issue of food security is becoming more urgent and important not only in Armenia but also around the world. Secondly, agriculture is the area where it is most preferable to preserve social distance and there are ample opportunities to ensure self-employment," he said.
The third reason, according to Pashinyan, are the opportunities enabling to create new jobs and ensure self-employment.
"Fourth, now is a good time to carry out or stimulate institutional reforms that previously could not be implemented for objective or subjective reasons," the prime minister said, adding that the task force on economic issues discussed various options in this area.
According to the head of government, it is necessary to stimulate the creation of agricultural cooperatives.
“We see opportunities to stimulate this area. We believe that this will create new opportunities for all those people who at individual levels have not achieved success in the agricultural sector and now, due to bad credit histories, will face restrictions on participation in other programs,” the prime minister said.
Pashinyan added that the government should be exclusively responsible to formulate clear standards for managing these cooperatives.
"In particular, there is an idea that cooperatives should be led by skilled persons, who will need also to have mandatory courses after a certain period of time," the prime minister said, noting that these ideas are still at the discussion stage.
On March 16 the government of Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency in a bid to stop the spread of the infection.
In Armenia, as of, March 23, 194 cases of coronavirus were confirmed.
Among those infected are Armenian citizens from Iran and Italy (residents of Yerevan, Echmiadzin, Meghri and Charentsavan), people who had contacted with them, as well as one Italian citizen and a visitor from France. Two patients who recovered from the coronavirus were discharged from the hospital. -0-
“Under the new conditions, the importance of agriculture is determined by several reasons. Firstly, the issue of food security is becoming more urgent and important not only in Armenia but also around the world. Secondly, agriculture is the area where it is most preferable to preserve social distance and there are ample opportunities to ensure self-employment," he said.
The third reason, according to Pashinyan, are the opportunities enabling to create new jobs and ensure self-employment.
"Fourth, now is a good time to carry out or stimulate institutional reforms that previously could not be implemented for objective or subjective reasons," the prime minister said, adding that the task force on economic issues discussed various options in this area.
According to the head of government, it is necessary to stimulate the creation of agricultural cooperatives.
“We see opportunities to stimulate this area. We believe that this will create new opportunities for all those people who at individual levels have not achieved success in the agricultural sector and now, due to bad credit histories, will face restrictions on participation in other programs,” the prime minister said.
Pashinyan added that the government should be exclusively responsible to formulate clear standards for managing these cooperatives.
"In particular, there is an idea that cooperatives should be led by skilled persons, who will need also to have mandatory courses after a certain period of time," the prime minister said, noting that these ideas are still at the discussion stage.
On March 16 the government of Armenia declared a 30-day state of emergency in a bid to stop the spread of the infection.
In Armenia, as of, March 23, 194 cases of coronavirus were confirmed.
Among those infected are Armenian citizens from Iran and Italy (residents of Yerevan, Echmiadzin, Meghri and Charentsavan), people who had contacted with them, as well as one Italian citizen and a visitor from France. Two patients who recovered from the coronavirus were discharged from the hospital. -0-
