Thursday, 24 March 2011
“Armenian Fruit” to build on Armenia’s export capacity
At the press conference that followed today’s cabinet sitting, Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan commented on the Agricultural Capacity Building Program grant facility available from the IFAD which is aimed at boosting fruit-farming activities in the Republic of Armenia. Having a total cost of USD 52mn, the program will be introduced in Vaiots-Dzor, Tavush marzes and Tain region of Aragatsotni marz.
The program provides for the use of 700 ha land for fruit-growing purposes. According to Mr. Karapetyan, “This is a large circuit ranging from saplings’ imports to crop purveyance that will be managed by Armenian Fruit OJSC with a 100% public stake. New investors will be involved as soon as the company grows into a going concern so that the shares are privatized to refund the government’s investment,” the speaker said.
State-of-the-art technologies were said to be imported to provide for drop-by-drop feeding of the saplings.
Armenian Fruit OJSC will carry out grading, packaging, advertising, as well as logistical and exporting functions. To expand the scope of program beneficiaries, it will be open for all farmers with up to 2 hectares of cultivated land.
See more in the audio material
