New minister sees no problems connected with grape purchase (video)
Viticulture should reflect relations between farmers and processing companies, we cannot leave all issues on the state, Armenia’s new Agriculture Minister said on September 27. “We should create a mechanism to enable grape-growers and processing companies to work together. We cannot allow vine-growers to go bankrupt every time or framers get rid of their produce somehow; everything must be in harmony,” Ignati Arakelyan said. He says the role of the ministry is to help farmers optimize production costs. “We have calculated cost prices, we need to understand and advise farmers on how to lower costs to be able to attract processing companies,” he added. The minister does not think that there will be problems with the purchase, because this year’s produce was not as great as that of last year. “Last year, we had more grapes because the climatic conditions were favourable. Unfortunately, there was large hail this year and there was a decrease in the harvest," Ignati Arakelyan said. The minister is travelling to Vayots Dzor marz on Wednesday to discuss issues of grape harvest with the locals.
