"Our patience is exhausted"
Owners of greenhouses from Ararat and Armavir provinces today staged a protest outside the government building calling the executive body's attention to their complaints.
The protesters say they cannot sell the vegetables grown in greenhouses because of the cheap prices of imported goods, which, they say, creates unfair conditions for local farmers.
"Turkish products are not cleared by customs and are sold in our markets at lower prices than local products," said Gagik Vardanyan, a resident of Ararat.
The villagers say the cost price of tomatoes grown in Armenia is higher which is conditioned by the advance in gas prices.
"The price of gas is up in Armenia and we cannot afford the greenhouse costs. As soon as Turkish tomatoes appear in the market, the prices go down by 100 drams," said Hrant Kirakosyan, a citizen of Etchmadzin.
The protesters argue that the villages will empty if the government fails to tackle the issue in time.
"Running a greenhouse is very costly in Armenia. We have taken loans at a high interest rate and cannot repay them. Our patience is exhausted," said Gagik Vardanyan.
