"Half a liter of water is more expensive than 1 liter of milk": Farmers prepare to block roads

Residents of several communities in Gegharkunik Province are raising their voices in protest, making their grievances heard by the authorities. The issue at hand is that milk processing factories are purchasing milk from farmers at 130 drams, down from the previous 150 drams. Farmers consider the drop in milk prices to be ruthless amidst widespread inflation.

“Conscience is a good thing. When it comes out from the ground, half a liter of water costs 180 drams, while one liter of milk costs 130 drams. The government is not responding to us, and our questions remain unanswered. We have appealed to the government for assistance in negotiating with the milk processing companies regarding the price of milk. We do not know what was said or not said, but we were told that the milk processing companies link the price drop to the season. We have met with Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan and his assistant. In response to our question, they gave illiterate and absurd answers, trying to cover up the dark deeds of the milk collection companies. They tell us there is stagnation in the market, and we ask, if that is the case, why are you importing milk powder? I produce enough milk, and I am ready to supply that amount of milk at a reasonable price; stop importing milk powder. What have you been doing with Persians all this time? Now the Persian has produced whey, and one has brought this mafia to Armenia and gathered us all at the edge of the abyss,” farmers expressed indignantly in an interview with the reporter from the “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily.

Martin Petrosyan, head of the Agriculture and Environmental Protection Department of the Gegharkunik Regional Administration, also mentioned in the conversation that this issue is raised every year, but no organization listens to the farmers' protests. “The milk producer should, while knowing their milk volume, preliminarily approach and sign a contract with the milk processing company that this month they will sell this much milk at this price. Now the milk producer is busy with their worries and sorrows… Milk has seasonality; animals give the most milk at this time of year. The collector, seeing that the farmer has no contract, takes advantage of that situation and dictates their price, resulting in excessive profit.”

“Before becoming a minister, who was Kerobyan? He was a livestock keeper, why does he not see the situation of farmers today? If they do not solve our problem and continue the decline in milk prices, we will block the roads every day. Specifically, the road will be blocked and will not be opened until someone meets with us and a solution is provided to our issue,” said an outraged farmer.