FAO to provide $500,000 to Armenia for overcoming food crisis

YEREVAN, August 6. /ARKA/. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed an agreement with Armenia on providing $500,000 for the country to overcome the food crisis.

The agreement was signed by Armenian Minister of Agriculture Aramayis Grigoryan and FAO Representative on Eastern Europe and Central Asia Maria Kadlecikova.

A year ago Armenia applied to FAO leadership for help and received positive response. The money will be spent on purchase of stock cereals seeds for farmers who are in a worst condition, the Minister said.

The program is to cover 4,300-4,500 most vulnerable rural households of most damaged regions.

The stock seeds will be distributed to farmers from August 20 to August 25. The seeds will be purchased in Armenia so that local producers have an opportunity to sell their seed products this and next year, the Minister said.
Maria Kadlecikova, in her turn, reported that soon the second stage agreement will be signed to develop institutional development and improve marketing opportunities of the country’s rural sector.

Under the program, expert assistance will be provided to farmers to ensure long-term and stable results of sowing next season.

Armenia is among 48 states most damaged as a result of the steep rise in prices for foodstuffs and fuel. FAO is to allocate $21mln to these countries.

Armenia has been a full member of FAO since 1993. In the last 13 years FAO played great role in development and implementation of rural policy in Armenia, settlement of food safety problems and expansion of international cooperation and poverty reduction. –0--