The restrictions imposed by Russia on Armenian agricultural products remain in force, and their first negative consequences are already being felt by exporters of flowers, greens, and mulberries, agronomist Harutyun Mnatsakanyan said in an interview with Aysor.am.
According to him, mulberry exporters are facing particular difficulties, as Russia was the primary market for the product: “Demand for mulberries in other countries is not nearly as high.”
Mnatsakanyan also noted that this year’s apricot harvest suffered significantly due to adverse weather conditions.
“There was hail, frost, and excessive humidity caused by heavy rains, all of which negatively affected the harvest. As a result, yields are quite low this year,” the agronomist said.
According to his information, some batches of apricots have already been exported.
“It was possible to export several hundred tons of apricots. Friends of mine exported about 200 tons to Lviv, and several truckloads were sent to Iran. I do not have information about the remaining volumes,” he said.
Commenting on the high prices of agricultural products, Mnatsakanyan argued that they are not entirely justified.
“Apricots are only now beginning to ripen, and prices will decline over time. As for other agricultural products, even I cannot explain why prices are so high. The Competition Protection Commission should look into the matter,” he said.
The agronomist recalled that Armenia exports approximately $1 billion worth of agricultural products annually and warned that continued export restrictions could create serious challenges for the sector.
“If these restrictions remain in place, just imagine how critical the situation could become,” he emphasized.
Speaking about state subsidy programs, Mnatsakanyan said that annual support amounting to around 4 billion drams is insufficient to address the sector’s problems.
“That is roughly $10 million. Compared to an export volume of $1 billion, it amounts to only 1 percent. In the long run, such support will not solve any major issues; at best, it can somewhat ease the situation in the short term,” he said.
He added that, in addition to export-related difficulties, the agricultural sector continues to struggle with the consequences of natural disasters, including this year’s hailstorms and frosts, which caused substantial damage to crops.
—
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Boshkezenian Garik. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/06/24/subsidizing-4-billion-drams-will-not-solve-the-problems-agronomist/