Deputy Minister says no potato price rise in spring
08.11.2011,
22:36
A deputy Armenian minister of agriculture denied today fears that potato prices will surge next spring. Speaking at a news conference Samvel Galstyan said the prices are very likely to even drop in spring.
YEREVAN, November 8. / ARKA /. A deputy Armenian minister of agriculture denied today fears that potato prices will surge next spring. Speaking at a news conference Samvel Galstyan said the prices are very likely to even drop in spring. He said currently one kg of high quality potato costs about 250 drams and ‘normal’ quality potatoes can be purchased from 160 to 200 drams per kilo. He said the potato crop this year was high and 430 tons were already exported to Russia.
According to official data, the total acreage under potato in 2010 was 28,300 hectares, yielding 482,000 tons. Some 350,000 were sold at home and about 3,700 tons sold in Georgia.
"This year prices of agricultural products have dropped substantially as opposed to last year, and I am confident that this trend will continue. This year has proved very fruitful and have caused minimal damage to the agricultural sector compared with previous years," he said.
Hrachya Berberian, head of Agrarian and Peasant Association, argued earlier that the price of potato in the spring months would rise, because 30% of the crop was damaged by very hot weather in summer. He claimed that the official data about the volume of gathered potato is inflated by 20-30%.
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the price of one kg potato in Yerevan in October amounted to 218.6 drams, a decrease of 31.3%, compared with the previous month. ($1 - 380.47 AMD). -0-
According to official data, the total acreage under potato in 2010 was 28,300 hectares, yielding 482,000 tons. Some 350,000 were sold at home and about 3,700 tons sold in Georgia.
"This year prices of agricultural products have dropped substantially as opposed to last year, and I am confident that this trend will continue. This year has proved very fruitful and have caused minimal damage to the agricultural sector compared with previous years," he said.
Hrachya Berberian, head of Agrarian and Peasant Association, argued earlier that the price of potato in the spring months would rise, because 30% of the crop was damaged by very hot weather in summer. He claimed that the official data about the volume of gathered potato is inflated by 20-30%.
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the price of one kg potato in Yerevan in October amounted to 218.6 drams, a decrease of 31.3%, compared with the previous month. ($1 - 380.47 AMD). -0-
