ARMENIA TO MEET 75% OF ITS DEMAND FOR GRAIN ON ITS OWN IN 2012
Noyan Tapan
Ma y 16, 2008
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2007, the overall expenditures of
agriculture made 8 bln drams (about 27 mln USD), 2 bln drams of which
was allocated for salaries of employees in forestry and veterinary
service, the RA minister of agriculture Davit Lokian said at the May
16 discussion on execution of the 2007 state budget at the National
Assembly.
In his words, the ministry implemented three large programs last
year. In particular, under the subsidising program in Aragatsotn and
Chambarak, farmers were allocated 35 thousand drams for cultivating a
hectare of land on certian conditions. Besides, pedigree animals were
brought to Armenia and given to farmers. Commodity credits were given
at 0% interest rate for four years. This process will continue, and,
according to the minister, another 500 pedigree animals were brought
into the country in recent days. As a result of this program, it is
envisaged producing up to a million tons of dairy products in Armenia
in 2012. A program on grain crops’ import and seed production is also
underway. The states compensates for some part of the expenses: about
110 mln drams is allocated to farms. As a result of this program’s
implementation, in 2011 Armenia shall become a self-sufficient country
in terms of wheat and corn production, while in 2012 it will reach
the first degree of self-sufficiency when 75% of demand for grain is
met domestically.
Another big program of the ministry is construction of dams of the
Arax River, for which about 1.4 bln drams was allocated in the autumn
of 2007.
The ministry also provides credits to farms.