Thursday, 29 July 2010
Domestic production of wheat seeds will help lower import-dependency
Today’s cabinet sitting approved the 2010-2014 wheat seed-growing development program of the Republic of Armenia and authorized seeds imports. RA Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan was hosted at the government’s press center to comment on these decisions.
The minister advised that earlier the government had allocated AMD 558 million for importing elite wheat seeds into Armenia. 950 tons of “Krasnodar-99” and some other highly-performing seeds of winter wheat will be procured from Russian “Luch” experimental company (Stavropol region) under this decision.
To organize and coordinate the purchase and import of seeds, Stavropol region was visited by a working group led by RA Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan. In addition to the specified species, about 500 tons of local seeds will be purchased from the Gyumri seed-growing selection station, the Echmiadzin husbandry research center and two other Armenia-based private companies. The minister next informed that on the instruction of RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, all marz governors have submitted land inventories meeting the criteria established by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The program seeks to expand wheat crop areas up to 115-120 thousand hectares over the next few years. Crop areas fell to 82,700 ha last year due to the use of substandard seeds. Gerasim Alaverdyan says some 350-400 thousand tons of wheat will be produced in Armenia starting from 2014 bringing down the share of imports which, in turn, will lead to greater self-sufficiency (up to 55 % from the current 37%).
