IN KARABAKH WHEAT IS BREAD AND VIDEO PLAYER
Lragir.am
15 April 06
After the price of wheat had dropped dramatically, experts expected a
reduction of areas under wheat. The indices of winter wheat were, in
fact,causing concern. 40 per cent less wheat was sown. However, the
National Statistics Service informed that by April 10, 2006 1867.6
hectares were put under crop.
Growing by 97.7 per cent against the same period in 2005. 53.8 per
cent or 1005.5 hectares of crops is potato, 31.8 per cent or 593.3
hectares is grain and peas and beans.
Farmers say although the price of wheat dropped and the price of
diesel soared, and wheat is not profitable any more, they had to sow
wheat again though they had not been able to sell the crop. They say
only with `free’
cultivation is it possible to generate income, that is on the expense
of the state or others.
Whereas wheat is a staple crop Karabakh, it does not require much
water (only 4 per cent of land in Karabakh is irrigated), secondly,
wheat is highly demanded. In the village of Nor Maragha, Martakert
region, for instance, where about 300 people displaced from old
Maragha live, the quality of life improved thanks to wheat
production. The English teacher of the school of Nor Maragha Magdalena
Hambardzumyan said after the harvest of 2005 new TV sets, video
players and cell phones appeared in many families. There are people
who can already afford to redecorate their houses. The farmers do not
complain of abundance of land, they need a loan. Here there is
something to complain of.