Twenty fish farms shut down this year
24.05.2016,
17:29
About two dozen fish farms have shut down in Armenia since the beginning of the year- three in the past five days, Arthur Atoyan, the chairman of the Union of Fish Producers and Exporters said today.
YEREVAN, May 24. /ARKA/. About two dozen fish farms have shut down in Armenia since the beginning of the year- three in the past five days, Arthur Atoyan, the chairman of the Union of Fish Producers and Exporters said today.
Speaking to a news conference, he said the main reason is the gradual monopolization of this market that pushes small fish farms out.
"The prime cost of fish growing is quite high in Armenia, while wholesale prices are low. It is a big problem for fish farms", he said, adding that the situation is aggravated by the seasonal factor, because from May to late autumn sales of fish decline dramatically.
Atoyan slammed the Ministry of Agriculture for not taking any preventive measures to address the problems of local fish farms.
An owner of a fish farm Haykaz Zeynalyan said exports of Armenia-produced fish have fallen and almost all farms have credit obligations being unable to pay the loans. He said the planned increase in water charges could lead to the closure of many other fish farms.
According to statistics, the volume of fishing in January-March amounted to 10 billion drams, having increased by 7.5% from the same time span of 2015.-0-
Speaking to a news conference, he said the main reason is the gradual monopolization of this market that pushes small fish farms out.
"The prime cost of fish growing is quite high in Armenia, while wholesale prices are low. It is a big problem for fish farms", he said, adding that the situation is aggravated by the seasonal factor, because from May to late autumn sales of fish decline dramatically.
Atoyan slammed the Ministry of Agriculture for not taking any preventive measures to address the problems of local fish farms.
An owner of a fish farm Haykaz Zeynalyan said exports of Armenia-produced fish have fallen and almost all farms have credit obligations being unable to pay the loans. He said the planned increase in water charges could lead to the closure of many other fish farms.
According to statistics, the volume of fishing in January-March amounted to 10 billion drams, having increased by 7.5% from the same time span of 2015.-0-
