Economy ministry asks government to provide 30-50 percent subsidies to farmers for purchase of fertilizers

YEREVAN, February 10. /ARKA/. The Armenian Ministry of Economy suggested that the government subsidize the prices of fertilizers by 30-50%, Minister Vahan Kerobyan told a press briefing on Thursday.

"We suggested that the government consider subsidizing the prices of fertilizers by 30-50%, taking into account the sharp rise in their prices," he said.

Kerobyan said that active negotiations were underway with suppliers. According to him, the final amount of subsidies will depend on the outcome of the negotiations.

"We expect it (the amount) to be approved at the next government meeting," he said.

An opposition MP Arthur Khachatryan from Hayastan alliance, who served earlier as minister of agriculture, called on the government earlier this week to subsidize purchase of fertilizers by famers in order not to endanger the spring sowing season.

According to him, 1 sack of ammonium nitrate, which was sold for 6-7.5 thousand drams last year, now costs 20 thousand drams.

"If no emergency measures are taken in the coming days, tomorrow we will be jealous of today's prices of potatoes and cabbage. Expensive fertilizers, seeds and fuel mean expensive and in smaller quantities bread, fruit, vegetables and meat," he said. -0-