IN ORDER NOT TO LEAVE LANDS UNCULTIVATED

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
July 24, 2009

On July 22, the Prime Minister of the Republic, Minister and
Deputy Ministers of Agriculture had a meeting with the heads of
communities and substantial farmers of the region. During the meeting
Ara Haroutyunyan shared his observations on cultivation of cereals
with the participants, discussed the new government programmes and
standpoints with them.

Last year, the state tried to assist to the villagers in land
cultivation as far as possible, however, the expectations were not
justified because of unfavourable conditions. Nevertheless, this
does not mean that everything must be ascribed to the nature. Our
main fault consists in neglecting the rules of land cultivation. The
land is not subject to chemical analysis, as a rule it is fertilized
with nitrogen fertilizer only, which in many territories exerts a
far negative influence, combating against weeds is disregarded.

The Government is aware of the fact that the greater part of owners
and tenants refuse observing all agricultural rules because of
financial strait.

The Prime Minister offers a new way out which implies expending much
on small territories and getting greater profit instead of cultivating
large territories without any profit.

Conditions in Artsakh provide quite realistic opportunities for
getting 50 centners of grain per hectare in case of due cultivation
and according to the Prime Minister this index must be the stake of
forthcoming years’ harvest.

In future, state support in form of credits and subsidies will be
granted to the farmers cultivating the land in accord with the rules
proposed by the state. Land users are envisaged to pass certification.

For autumn sowing works of 2009 credits will be allowed by "The Fund
of Assistance to Village and Agriculture". Crediting will proceed
by stages.

Before applying for crediting the land owner must arrange the first
step at his own expense, then after the corresponding conclusion of
the fund’s specialists the first stage of crediting will be arranged.

The Government takes steps towards applying punitive measures against
careless tenants. There is already an initiative of corresponding
legislative changes.

Further on, the state will concentrate its attention on countryside
lands. The Prime Minister dispelled the anxieties of the population
of Hadrout. The change of direction of economic policy does not imply
change of foreign policy, and the fact of thousands of hectares of
countryside lands remaining uncultivated is really inadmissible.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress