Video: Papoyan on 90 Percent Wheat Imports from Russia

The issue of food security has always been important for us. I have also mentioned in the National Assembly that my last official phone conversation was with the Minister of Agriculture of Russia, concerning our overall import-export activities. This was stated today, September 26, by the Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, during a conversation with journalists after a government meeting, referring to the statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry representative Maria Zakharova, who emphasized that Armenia imports 90 percent of its wheat from Russia.

Regarding the suspension of the autumn wheat subsidy program in Armenia since last year, which has harmed farmers, the minister said, “The government spends the money of the citizens of Armenia. We are making calculations and implementing economically viable programs. If any program is economically impractical, we do not implement it; instead, we carry out another economically viable program.”

“In Armenia, wheat production is not an economically beneficial process. For example, from one hectare of irrigated land, 400,000 drams worth of wheat is produced, while 420,000 drams are spent,” he added.

When asked if importing wheat is more profitable, Papoyan responded, “No country in the world can produce everything. In Armenia, we should develop intensive horticulture, which is a more valuable and profitable process, and with the resulting funds, import what cannot be produced in the republic. There are many products that have strategic importance, such as gas and oil.”

“It would be very poor economic policy, and I would strongly criticize an economic policymaker who would use Armenia’s limited land resources for wheat production instead of intensive horticulture,” he stated.

When asked what would be done if the Lars road is closed for some reason, he said, “That is why a government exists, there is management, and there is daily work that the Ministry of Economy is carrying out.”