ARMENIA AND JAPAN SIGN GRANT AGREEMENT ON PURCHASE OF FARMING MACHINES FOR VULNERABLE FARMERS

/ARKA/
September 4, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September 4, /ARKA/. Representatives of Armenian and Japanese
governments have signed today in Yerevan a grant agreement whereby the
Japanese government will provide Armenia with a fresh $1.5 million
grant to be spent on purchase of farming machines for vulnerable
farmers.

The agreement was signed by Armenian minister of agriculture Gerasim
Alaverdian and Misaki Ikegama, a counselor of the Japanese embassy
in Moscow, Russia.

The Armenian minister said the grant will be used to buy 5 harvest
combines and 30 tractors that will be leased to farmers.

It will be the 10-th Japanese grant for purchase of agricultural
equipment.

The first was made available back in 1997. A total of 63 combines
and 305 tractors have been bought since then. Until 2001 the machines
had been leased by farmers, after 2001 they were auctioned.

Misaki Ikegama said the grants are given to help raise the
self-sustainability level of Armenian farmers and their living
standards. He added that the Japanese government is interested in
further strengthening of relations with Armenia and will continue to
support its economic development.
From: Baghdasarian