ArmenPress
July 16 2004

DEMAND FOR ARMENIAN POTATO IN CAUCASUS IS 500,000 TONS

YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian potato growing farmers are
expected to gather this year more than 400,000 tons of crop. Hrachya
Berberian, the chairman of the Armenian Agricultural Union, told
Armenpress that more potato will be exported this year than last
year, when Armenian farmers sold abroad some 25,000 tons of their
harvest. He said the Union has taken a range of sweeping measures to
overcome hurdles, caused mainly by, as he said ” unfair” customs
officers, and encourage more exports. He said the agricultural
ministry and the Union have taken potato exports under their
scrutiny. According to him, the demand for Armenian potato in the
region amounts to 500,000 tons.
He also said this autumn prices will be 30 percent higher and
ascribed high prices of fruits in the local markets to unfavorable
climatic conditions in late spring, when a wave of cold descended on
Armenia destroying part of the expected harvest.
Also Armenian agriculture minister David Lokian told a news
conference today that a plant being built in Masis for production of
potato powder will significantly decrease the number of hurdles
potato growing farmers face while selling their product.
He said the crop capacity of potato has risen after local farmers
began cultivating high-yielding varieties from France, Holland and
Germany.” What remains to do is to help a Diaspora businessman who is
building the factory to help procure potato this autumn,” He said. He
also said that Armenian potato growers will not face problems when
exporting it to neighboring Georgia through a border customs
checkpoint in Bagratashen, “as there are now all opportunities to
sell it without middlemen.”