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GAVAR, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS:
Armenpress news agency spoke with the governor of the Armenian province of Gegharkunik Nver Poghosyan about the programs directed toward reducing the poverty and immigration in the province, improvement of the quality of life of its population.
- Mr Poghosyan, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan points out the necessity of development of agriculture and the importance of events directed toward its improvement. What steps are being carried out to facilitate the burden of farmers in the province?
- During my tenure I always keep under the spotlight the village and farmers. The investments during the recent years were directed toward the sphere of agriculture as well. The fact that the irrigation lands increased by 2000 hectares, separate communities received agricultural engineering, rural roads have been reconstructed show that we have tried to assist the farmers as much as we could. Another issue is that the means were limited and they were not enough.
Two years ago the government's agricultural subsidies to the economies of the province exceeded 1 billion AMD as a result the corn fields noticeably increased. Today the demand still exists but our means are limited.
During different years the rural economies applied to banks but failed to pay back both because of natural disasters and failure to sell their products. On the other hand the interest rates were high. With the assignment of the Armenian president the mentioned interest rates decreased from 24% to 14 of which 4% is subsidized by the government. And today the farmer can make use of these credits paying 10% interest rate annually. Besides, now the loans are being provided not for one but for two years and in drams. The last circumstance is very important as till now the farmers were getting loans in the USD and the exchange fluctuations caused losses to them.
- In certain rural communities people complain that they did not get seeds and that the prices for fertilizers and fuel have raised. What is the reason?
- Today we managed to first of all assist the poorer, needy groups. In this respect we have distributed the first 300 tons of barley seeds to 23 more insecure people living in remote areas and included in the list of the Territorial Administration Ministry and the rest 165 tons of elite seeds was distributed to seed-growing farms for the organization of reproduction of seeds. As to the increase of prices for fertilizers, diesel, it is connected with the international market. If in case of fertilizers the state can oversight or restrict the inflation in case of oil products the main dictator is the international market.
- One of the prior directions in the province is tourism. What is being done for the development of the sphere?
- The tourism in the province is noticeably developing during the recent years. But I think that today we are using very small part of it. The problem is that the summer tourism is developing in the province but it lasts for 2-3 months. While the existence of Lake Sevan and the long lasting winter are very favorable for the development of the winter tourism. Not only people from the capital and other provinces but also from Iran, Russia and number of European countries are coming here.
We have big expectations from Izer province, we are already cooperating with its leadership. But for developing tourism we need big investments, efforts and time. In parallel to building of hotel complexes it is necessary to build streets, improve the roads taking to monuments, create and develop institutions of tourism significance. But the most important thing today is ensuring the cleanness of the water of Lake Sevan.
- A number of rural roads are in desperate situation. Their reconstruction may solve a number of issues both connected with agriculture and tourism. I particularly speak about Karmirgyugh-Gavar-Noratus, Hrazdan-Zovaber-Ddmashen and a number of others.
- The enumerated roads are included in the "Millennium Challenge" program. For bringing these programs to an end the Armenian government continues searching new ways. Currently large volume construction works are underway in the territory of Tchambarak. The road construction here needs bigger investments and more time.
- The outgoing work continues to be the major source of income in the province. What is being done to help people find jobs in the homeland?
- The outgoing work in the province was widely spread during the soviet years and people were mainly interested in big incomes. The formed tradition take our working men abroad. It is better to have outgoing work than to deal with emigration. But our goal is to keep people here and the government must carry out programs and invest money here. In this case I am sure we will need both jobs and labor force. I tie big hopes with the construction of Iran-Armenia railway, road construction investment programs, development of small and medium-sized business as a result of which the province will change its face saying farewell to poverty and social tension.