YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Large amounts of potatoes have accumulated in farms, and there are problems with their sale, the member of "PAP" faction Hrant Madatian said at the February 4 sitting of the National Assembly. According to him, in Gagharkunik marz (province), the potato surplus makes 70 thousand tons, and the farmers expect the state to assist them with its sale. The RA minister of agriculture Aramayis Grigorian said that no VAT is imposed on the export of up to 2.5 tons of potatoes, which is a privilage for those who export small amounts of potatoes. Besides, the government is conducting negotiations with Georgia on this issue. In the words of the Georgian minister of agriculture, their country needs potato seeds, and their amount is now being determined. A. Grigorian announced that the prime minister had met with those engaged in the processing sector, and an agreement had been reached to take steps for solution of the indicated problem. He added that previously the government urged farmers to sell potatoes for 75 drams a kilogram - at a lower than market price, but the latter did not agree.

---