Prime minister Tigran Sarkisian says Armenia’s agricultural sector will see progress this and next years
28.02.2011,
16:18
Prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said last Friday Armenia’s agricultural sector will see this and next years serious progress. In a televised interview he said the government is working hard to help boost this sector.
YEREVAN, February 28, /ARKA/. Prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said last Friday Armenia’s agricultural sector will see this and next years serious progress. In a televised interview he said the government is working hard to help boost this sector.
“In 2010 we imported, for the first time over the previous seven years, high quality wheat seeds to help grain crops cultivating farms and increase seed production,’ he said.
Last year the government released $1.5 million for import of elite wheat seeds to ease the country’s heavy dependence on wheat imports. Officials say Armenian farmers should be able to meet more than half of the demand already in 2013, when domestic wheat production is expected to rise to 350,000 tons. The country annually consumes up to 650,000 tons of food grains and relies on import for nearly two thirds of its grain consumption.
The prime minister said bread and bakery products make a substantial portion in Armenians ‘ consumer basket and if the government succeeds here that would have a positive impact on other food prices.
He said the government will import about 2,000 tons of grain seeds this year to distribute them free to 18,000 farms. He said the main target will vulnerable and insecure rural households which have no funds to cultivate their land.
Another direction of assistance will be helping boost organic agriculture, the prime minister said recalling that one such company, Tamara Fruit, received a 300 million Dram government assistance. To enhance cattle breeding the government brought 1,222 cows and 14 new cattle pedigree farms were established.
‘All of this must result in progress that we shall see this and next year,’ he said. He also said large investments will be made into indusrialziing Armenia’s agriculture as a safeguard against unfavourable climatic conditions. Armenia’s agricultural sector saw a dramatic decline of 14.5% in 2010. -0-
“In 2010 we imported, for the first time over the previous seven years, high quality wheat seeds to help grain crops cultivating farms and increase seed production,’ he said.
Last year the government released $1.5 million for import of elite wheat seeds to ease the country’s heavy dependence on wheat imports. Officials say Armenian farmers should be able to meet more than half of the demand already in 2013, when domestic wheat production is expected to rise to 350,000 tons. The country annually consumes up to 650,000 tons of food grains and relies on import for nearly two thirds of its grain consumption.
The prime minister said bread and bakery products make a substantial portion in Armenians ‘ consumer basket and if the government succeeds here that would have a positive impact on other food prices.
He said the government will import about 2,000 tons of grain seeds this year to distribute them free to 18,000 farms. He said the main target will vulnerable and insecure rural households which have no funds to cultivate their land.
Another direction of assistance will be helping boost organic agriculture, the prime minister said recalling that one such company, Tamara Fruit, received a 300 million Dram government assistance. To enhance cattle breeding the government brought 1,222 cows and 14 new cattle pedigree farms were established.
‘All of this must result in progress that we shall see this and next year,’ he said. He also said large investments will be made into indusrialziing Armenia’s agriculture as a safeguard against unfavourable climatic conditions. Armenia’s agricultural sector saw a dramatic decline of 14.5% in 2010. -0-
