IN ARTSAKH DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE PRODUCED FROM WHOLE MILK

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
27 March 07

In 2006 the gross agricultural output totaled 20735.5 million drams,
including 24.9% dairy products, 23% grain and 12.2% meat. We tried to
find out how the achievements of the past years affected the
companies. The executive director of Arvard, a dairy factory, said the
company can process about 3 metric tons of milk a day. However, in
winter the factory processes 500-600 liters and up to 1.5-1.6 metric
tons in late spring and summer. In 2006, Arvard processed about 200
metric tons of milk. Arajnek CJSC’s capacity is 5 metric tons a
day. Presently the company processes 1.5-1.6 metric tons. In spring
and summer the company processes up to 3 metric tons. In 2006 the
company processed about 600 metric tons. As to the Hayastan Company,
the executive director said they process an average of 8 metric tons a
month. The companies buy milk at 80-110 drams per liter. In winter
they pay 140 drams per liter. `Farmers say this is a low price but in
order to be competitive with the cheap dairy products imported from
Armenia we have to take this step,’ said Mushegh Yengibarian, the
executive director of Arajnek. The companies’ products are mainly sold
in the capital. One of the companies sells 60 percent, the other 85-90
percent of its products in Stepanakert. To survive in this competition
without lowering the price of their products the companies sustain the
quality and prefer whole milk to milk powder, which is imported
cheaply. Besides, milk powder imported in small quantities is not
lucrative. Arvard is said to sell its equipment for production of dry
milk. The executive director of Arvard said this equipment was not
used even during the Soviet period. `It is necessary to supply 60-80
metric tons of milk a day to operate the equipment, build a separate
boiling house and hire special specialists,’ he said, adding that
these problems do not seem likely to solve in the upcoming 10-15
years, therefore the owner decided to sell it to a larger
company. `The money will be spent on other projects in Artsakh and on
the problems that the factory is facing,’ said A. Grigorian, the
executive director of the Arvard Company.

NORAIR HOVSEPIAN.
27-03-2007

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress