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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.