Armenia To Become Self-Sufficient In Grain By 2014
20.08.2011,
17:06
The Armenian government expects that by 2014 the country will achieve self-sufficiency in grain and abandon grain importы, agriculture minister Sergo Karapetian told journalists today.
YEREVAN, August 19. / ARKA /. The Armenian government expects that by 2014 the country will achieve self-sufficiency in grain and abandon grain importы, agriculture minister Sergo Karapetian told journalists today.
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 said at that time that 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.
"Last year we gathered 183,000 tons of grain crops, this year's harvest will about 215,000 tons", he said. He said 85% of the grain crops this year have already been harvested. Karapetian also emphasized that the grain prices on world markets have fallen by 15-20%, but the drop is not felt in Armenia because earlier imported stocks at higher prices are not over yet.
Armenia annually consumes up to 650,000 tons of food grains and relies on import for nearly two thirds of its grain consumption. The minister said also production of vegetables has increased and by the end of the year about 750,000 are expected to be gathered.
Apricot harvest, according to the minister, amounted to 46,000 tons, of which 7,260 tons were exported.
"Our fishing farms also reported growth. The full-year catch is expected to be about 7,000 tons, up from 5,420 tons in 2010", he said.
Commenting on the rise in price of beef the minister recalled that during the last 6-7 months global meat prices rose by 15-20% and 25% in neighboring Georgia.
He said beef price in Armenia has risen by only 9-10%, while the prices of pork and lamb fell. –0—
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 said at that time that 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.
"Last year we gathered 183,000 tons of grain crops, this year's harvest will about 215,000 tons", he said. He said 85% of the grain crops this year have already been harvested. Karapetian also emphasized that the grain prices on world markets have fallen by 15-20%, but the drop is not felt in Armenia because earlier imported stocks at higher prices are not over yet.
Armenia annually consumes up to 650,000 tons of food grains and relies on import for nearly two thirds of its grain consumption. The minister said also production of vegetables has increased and by the end of the year about 750,000 are expected to be gathered.
Apricot harvest, according to the minister, amounted to 46,000 tons, of which 7,260 tons were exported.
"Our fishing farms also reported growth. The full-year catch is expected to be about 7,000 tons, up from 5,420 tons in 2010", he said.
Commenting on the rise in price of beef the minister recalled that during the last 6-7 months global meat prices rose by 15-20% and 25% in neighboring Georgia.
He said beef price in Armenia has risen by only 9-10%, while the prices of pork and lamb fell. –0—
