Minister blames sharp rise in prices of agricultural goods on hot weather
16.08.2018,
12:27
Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture Artur Khachatryan blamed a dramatic rise in the prices of locally grown agricultural products on what he described as ‘difficult climatic conditions’ of this summer.
YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture Artur Khachatryan blamed a dramatic rise in the prices of locally grown agricultural products on what he described as ‘difficult climatic conditions’ of this summer.
The Armenian daily ‘Aravot’ (Morning) quotes him as saying that the local market of agricultural produces is not monopolized and there is not a player that could influence the price formation.
‘In my opinion, the sharp rise of prices is to blame on natural disasters. For example, in the Ararat Valley (where ht bulk of agricultural produces is grown) the air temperature reached 43 degrees Celsius, while on the surface of the soil it was 60-65 degrees, causing serious damage to plants. Besides, there is the chronic problem with irrigation, " he said.
According to the minister, the problem was repeatedly discussed by the government. It is clear that these factors should be blamed for a drop in crop output, and the subsequent rise in prices.
"However, this situation is peculiar only for the last two months, since at the beginning of the year agricultural produces were cheaper," he said. -0-
The Armenian daily ‘Aravot’ (Morning) quotes him as saying that the local market of agricultural produces is not monopolized and there is not a player that could influence the price formation.
‘In my opinion, the sharp rise of prices is to blame on natural disasters. For example, in the Ararat Valley (where ht bulk of agricultural produces is grown) the air temperature reached 43 degrees Celsius, while on the surface of the soil it was 60-65 degrees, causing serious damage to plants. Besides, there is the chronic problem with irrigation, " he said.
According to the minister, the problem was repeatedly discussed by the government. It is clear that these factors should be blamed for a drop in crop output, and the subsequent rise in prices.
"However, this situation is peculiar only for the last two months, since at the beginning of the year agricultural produces were cheaper," he said. -0-
