“WE CARRY OUT THE WORKS WITHIN THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE”

Beginning from 2008, the amount of funds allocated from the state budget for the agrarian sector was increasing day by day and in 2012 it made 2949.6 million drams, exceeding the annual average of 2006-2007 more than 8 times.

According to the land balance, Nagorno-Karabakh has 124878.5 hectares of arable land, which makes 21% of the agricultural land. The ministry is aimed at the efficient use of land resources, improvement of land use and crop production, and increase of crop yields. The minister briefed on the harvest gathered in the republic, noting the reasons of its increase or decrease in different years.

The highest rate of wheat yield (except the Shahumian region - 23.2 q / ha) was achieved in Hadrut region - 19.7 q / ha and the lowest – the in Martakert region, making 11 q / ha. In the Martakert region, the yield of barley was also low.

According to the minister, thanks to the efficient work of the republican operational headquarters, in 2012, they managed to gather wheat harvest with almost no loss. The conversation related also to the mechanisms of providing land users with seeds of spring crops and agricultural chemicals, to the measures taken by the ministry for reducing the size of the damage caused to the fields by natural disasters and improper implementation of the rules of agricultural machinery.

The recent studies have testified that the most part of production in the GDP structure makes livestock. Emphasizing the importance of balanced development of the branches, Mr. Khachatrian noted that the government was consistent in increasing the efficiency of livestock. "It can be only noted that in 2012, 1665 million AMD was directed to crediting various livestock sectors", he said.

As of January 1, compared with the last year, increase in the number of all animals was fixed, except for birds, due to the increase in their slaughtering at the end of the year.

“The year of 2012 was also favorable in terms of maintaining a stable anti-epidemic situation”, the minister said. “During the year, there was no outbreak of dangerous diseases in the republic. In the reporting year, corresponding vaccine at 25.2 million AMD was imported from the Russian Federation, and the RA provided vaccine at 27.7 million AMD as assistance", he noted.

Among the achievements of 2012 Mr. Khachatrian noted the opening of the official website of the ministry, establishment of cooperation with other countries, improvement of the veterinary services, etc.

However, much is still to be done, and in the coming years, the ministry will try to maintain and develop the stable growth rates of the year of 2012.

The journalists touched upon the problems in the meat market, in particular, related to the sale of meat in several villages and the lack of control over the quality of the imported meat products.

As for the control, Mr. Khachatrian noted that the country almost lacked a system of ensuring food security, and the ministry of agriculture was taking corresponding steps to fill this gap. In addition, since September 2012, meat import from Armenia has been prohibited for security reasons. It is, in particular, due to the registered cases of anthrax. As for the restrictions on selling meat from the villages at the Stepanakert market, the minister does not consider the issue urgent, especially that the meat factory is put into operation. The issue will be fully resolved with the opening of a meat processing enterprise, and the ministry has already got corresponding plans.

The journalists raised the issue of the necessity to introduce corresponding changes in the crediting mechanism implemented by the Fund for Rural and Agricultural Support for reimbursing the damage caused by natural disasters, as the operating mechanisms often benefit only the officials, making business in the agricultural sphere, and not the common land users.

In response, the minister noted that the reimbursement was often given in the form of prolonging the term of the credits’ repayment and not as financial assistance. And it is normal, especially that no insurance system is operating in agriculture yet. By the way, the ministry of agriculture is working in this direction, and pilot insurance will be introduced in some branches soon.

Why are so much funds allocated, and the works are done poorly? Answering the question, A. Khachatrian noted that the works were carried out within the resources available, but in general, they were insufficient. "Just for fertilizing the lands, 6 or 7 billion AMD are needed, while only 400-500 million AMD are allocated, or about 10 times less. 80% of the registered agricultural equipment is worn, causing violation of the agricultural rules and the terms of agricultural works. To renew the fleet, about 20 billion AMD are needed. And so is in all directions", the minister said.

When will the NKR become self-sufficient in terms of food? According to Andranik Khachatrian, for some products - wheat, eggs, poultry, and in part the dairy products - the republic is already self-sufficient. The ministry is currently elaborating a concept of food security, as a result of which many issues will get their solution.

At the request of the journalists, the minister told in details about the sub-regional programs. As we know, they have been carried out only in Banadzor and Ukhtadzor so far. Similar programs will be also carried out in the Togh sub-region (Hadrut region) Khramort sub-region (8 communities of the Askeran region), 10 communities of the Martuni region (Nor shen, Kaghartsi, etc).

The minister pays great importance in the implementation of all these works and provision of good results to consultations and consolidation of the relation "ministry - peasant - land user - farmer". Here he finds it necessary to stimulate the process by increasing the salaries of agronomists and veterinarians working in the field. A slight increase has taken place, and it will be periodic, assured the minister of agriculture.

Srbuhi VANIAN