ARMENIA TO MEET 75% OF ITS DEMAND FOR GRAIN ON ITS OWN IN
2012
16-05-2008 19:55:00 | Armenia | Economy
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2007, the overall
expenditures of agriculture made 8 bln drams (about 27 mln USD),
2 bln drams of which was allocated for salaries of employees in
forestry and veterinary service, the RA minister of agriculture
Davit Lokian said at the May 16 discussion on execution of the
2007 state budget at the National Assembly.
In his words, the ministry implemented three large programs
last year. In particular, under the subsidising program in
Aragatsotn and Chambarak, farmers were allocated 35 thousand
drams for cultivating a hectare of land on certian conditions.
Besides, pedigree animals were brought to Armenia and given to
farmers. Commodity credits were given at 0% interest rate for
four years. This process will continue, and, according to the
minister, another 500 pedigree animals were brought into the
country in recent days. As a result of this program, it is
envisaged producing up to a million tons of dairy products in
Armenia in 2012. A program on grain crops' import and seed
production is also underway. The states compensates for some
part of the expenses: about 110 mln drams is allocated to farms.
As a result of this program's implementation, in 2011 Armenia
shall become a self-sufficient country in terms of wheat and
corn production, while in 2012 it will reach the first degree of
self-sufficiency when 75% of demand for grain is met
domestically.
Another big program of the ministry is construction of dams
of the Arax River, for which about 1.4 bln drams was allocated
in the autumn of 2007. The ministry also provides credits to
farms.