TIGRAN SARGSYAN SAYS RA GOVERNMENT EFFECTING SERIOUS REFORMS IN AGRICULTURAL SPHERE
ARMENPRESS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
answered today the questions of journalists after the opening ceremony
of RA agriculture ministry’s republican veterinary anti-epidemic and
diagnostic center in Yerevan.
– Mr. Prime Minister, the Russian ‘GasProm’ company announced about
raising the tariff of gas supply 2011. What kind of measures is the
Government undertaking for relieving the consequences of the rise in
gas tariff?
– The issue of rise in gas tariff was discussed during the visit of
President of Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev to Armenia. The issue
is always on focus of the RA Government, and the corresponding bodies
always hold consultations on it. A concrete task is assigned to the
board of ‘ArmRosGazProm’ company to continue the talks for making the
gas tariff policy and methodology foreseeable. Within several months
the company board will provide concrete information on the results
of the talks with the Russian side.
– Mr. Sargsyan, economic declines have been registered in the
agricultural sphere. What can you foresee for the near future?
– In the first seven months of 2010 the agricultural sphere was not in
a good state; because of weather variations we suffered serious losses
in the fruits-vegetables production. The agricultural decline was quite
enormous and all the general macroeconomic indices went bad because of
agriculture. It is too difficult to foresee the weather conditions of
spring and autumn sowing; however it is evident that we are effecting
reforms of utmost seriousness in the agricultural sphere. For the first
time in the recent 10 years we adopted a program for seed farming.
Despite Russia’s embargo on wheat exportation, we will import 1000
tons of high-quality wheat. We selected those companies, which are
able to be engaged in seed farming in the provinces. We have an aim to
achieve the level of producing 30,000 tons of elite seeds within the
forthcoming 5 years. This will ensure 15-20% rise in productivity. We
hope that the issue will be solved completely within that period. We
have adopted a program of organic fertilizer production, using the
local research potential. In this sphere we implemented pilot projects
in all the provinces; the results were positive.
Due to this project our dependence on imported fertilizers will be
reduced. Besides, the Armenian fertilizers will be twice cheaper
than the imported ones. We established regional support centers for
holding consultations with villagers. The systems of irrigation
is being improved as well. It was the first time the program of
agricultural reforms was put to public vote. A program for supplying
the agricultural sphere with equipments was adopted as well.
This concept is aimed at extending farms and increasing the
agricultural efficiency. It is significant that we connect the concept
on development of agriculture with rural development; the complex
development of villages and creation of jobs in rural communities
are quite important for the symmetric territorial development of
the Republic.
– Mr. Sargsyan, a discussion on ‘Armenia in Post-Crisis Period:
Challenges and Opportunities’ will be held tomorrow in Dilijan. What
kind of issues does the state face in the post-crisis period? What
kind of issues are expected to be discussed at tomorrow’s event.
– We will discuss not only the issues of the post-crisis period,
but also the long-term development of Armenia, taking into account
the lessons of the crisis, the rout, we passed during the recent 20
years, the economic reforms, the further model of development, the
relative advantages and vulnerable parts of our economy. We will have
conceptual discussions; it will give the Government an opportunity
to make clear the programs and strategies, which are on the basis of
the economic policy.
From: A. Papazian