Expert points out main causes of price hike at Armenia’s meat market
11.10.2017,
18:45
Meat has become more expensive in Armenia because of the long-lasting drought and the increase in prices for cattle fodder, Hrach Berberyan, head of Agriculture Association of Armenia, told journalists on Wednesday.
YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Meat has become more expensive in Armenia because of the long-lasting drought and the increase in prices for cattle fodder, Hrach Berberyan, head of Agriculture Association of Armenia, told journalists on Wednesday.
According to the National Statistical Service, meat prices rose 6.5% in September 2017, compared with the same month a year earlier.
According to official statistical reports, an average retail price for beef stood at AMD 2,498.9 (around $5.2) per one kilogram.
Meat is mostly produced in Armenia. According to reports, 27,412.5 tons of meat have been produced in the country over a period between January and August 2017 (4.8% year-on-year growth), and only 23.4 tons have been imported over the mentioned period.
“The drought that lasted in Armenia from the beginning of summer till the end of September sharply reduced cattle fodder, and prices for hay went up as well, and this impacted the cattle maintenance cost driving prices for meat and dairy products up,” Berberyan said.
He said that the price for a hay bale was 400 to 600 drams in 2016, while now it costs from 1,200 to 2,000 drams.
As a result, meat prices leapt. “To solve the cattle fodder problem the government should ask its international partners, including the Eurasia Economic Union member countries, for help,” Berberyan said.
In his words, if help is not provided, Armenia will have its cattle reduced by 30 to 40% and the beef price may reach 5,000 drams per one kilogram.
Berberyan said that there are 600,000 units of cattle and 700,000 of sheep and goats in Armenia now.
If the number of cattle units shrinks, he said, dairy industry will flag driving prices for domestic milk and dairy products up.
According to the National Statistical Service, 6,900 units of cattle were exported from Armenia in the first half of this year against 1,400 units in the same period a year before (4.9% year-on-year growth).
Customs cost was $2.7 million against $552,200.
Exports to Iraq dominate Armenia’s total cattle exports with 97.1% or 6,700 units.
As many as 315 units were imported into Armenia in Jan-June 2017 against 353 units in the same period a year earlier, 2,200 tons of pork in Jan-June 2017 (16% year-on-year decline) and 579.7 tons of mutton and goat meat (69.5% year-on-year growth). ($1 – AMD 480.22). --0---
According to the National Statistical Service, meat prices rose 6.5% in September 2017, compared with the same month a year earlier.
According to official statistical reports, an average retail price for beef stood at AMD 2,498.9 (around $5.2) per one kilogram.
Meat is mostly produced in Armenia. According to reports, 27,412.5 tons of meat have been produced in the country over a period between January and August 2017 (4.8% year-on-year growth), and only 23.4 tons have been imported over the mentioned period.
“The drought that lasted in Armenia from the beginning of summer till the end of September sharply reduced cattle fodder, and prices for hay went up as well, and this impacted the cattle maintenance cost driving prices for meat and dairy products up,” Berberyan said.
He said that the price for a hay bale was 400 to 600 drams in 2016, while now it costs from 1,200 to 2,000 drams.
As a result, meat prices leapt. “To solve the cattle fodder problem the government should ask its international partners, including the Eurasia Economic Union member countries, for help,” Berberyan said.
In his words, if help is not provided, Armenia will have its cattle reduced by 30 to 40% and the beef price may reach 5,000 drams per one kilogram.
Berberyan said that there are 600,000 units of cattle and 700,000 of sheep and goats in Armenia now.
If the number of cattle units shrinks, he said, dairy industry will flag driving prices for domestic milk and dairy products up.
According to the National Statistical Service, 6,900 units of cattle were exported from Armenia in the first half of this year against 1,400 units in the same period a year before (4.9% year-on-year growth).
Customs cost was $2.7 million against $552,200.
Exports to Iraq dominate Armenia’s total cattle exports with 97.1% or 6,700 units.
As many as 315 units were imported into Armenia in Jan-June 2017 against 353 units in the same period a year earlier, 2,200 tons of pork in Jan-June 2017 (16% year-on-year decline) and 579.7 tons of mutton and goat meat (69.5% year-on-year growth). ($1 – AMD 480.22). --0---
