This Year We Will Not Have Major Issues with Grape Harvesting, Expected to Collect 180,000 Tons of Grapes – Kerobyan

For grape harvesting, the total loan term has been extended from 1 year to 3 years, and the deferred payment period has increased from 3 months to 1 year. This was announced by the Minister of Economy of Armenia, Vahan Kerobyan, during a Government meeting.

He noted that these changes would enable grape collectors to harvest more freely and in larger volumes. "On the other hand, they will have the opportunity to pay farmers faster for the grapes collected, and by maximizing the harvesting volumes, they will be able to export more in the future," said the minister, adding that the agricultural year is generally going very well.

"Today, in terms of fresh agricultural products, we have already reached the figures of last year; we have surpassed last year's figures by about 145 thousand tons, and we hope to set a record by the end of the year and surpass the limit of 200 thousand tons," said Kerobyan.

"We are having intensive consultations with both grape growers and collectors, and I can say that the plans that collectors have allow us to hope that this year we will not have major issues with harvesting; it is expected that around 180 thousand tons of grapes will be collected, which is sufficient for the entire harvest to be collected," said the minister.

Surén Papikyan announced that there will be no grape growers in Armenia who will not be able to sell their grapes. He called on the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, noting that the ministry must work daily to ensure that there are no blocked streets or protests. "There should be no justified protests, and that falls within your area of responsibility," he stated.