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Tourism and Agriculture prior spheres in Gegharkunik
17:02, 2 May, 2011
GAVAR, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS:
Armenpress news agency spoke with the governor of the Armenian
province of Gegharkunik Nver Poghosyan about the programs directed
toward reducing the poverty and immigration in the province,
improvement of the quality of life of its population.
- Mr Poghosyan, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan points out the
necessity of development of agriculture and the importance of events
directed toward its improvement. What steps are being carried out to
facilitate the burden of farmers in the province?
- During my tenure I always keep under the spotlight the village and
farmers. The investments during the recent years were directed toward
the sphere of agriculture as well. The fact that the irrigation lands
increased by 2000 hectares, separate communities received agricultural
engineering, rural roads have been reconstructed show that we have
tried to assist the farmers as much as we could. Another issue is that
the means were limited and they were not enough.
Two years ago the government's agricultural subsidies to the economies
of the province exceeded 1 billion AMD as a result the corn fields
noticeably increased. Today the demand still exists but our means are
limited.
During different years the rural economies applied to banks but failed
to pay back both because of natural disasters and failure to sell
their products. On the other hand the interest rates were high. With
the assignment of the Armenian president the mentioned interest rates
decreased from 24% to 14 of which 4% is subsidized by the government.
And today the farmer can make use of these credits paying 10% interest
rate annually. Besides, now the loans are being provided not for one
but for two years and in drams. The last circumstance is very
important as till now the farmers were getting loans in the USD and
the exchange fluctuations caused losses to them.
- In certain rural communities people complain that they did not get
seeds and that the prices for fertilizers and fuel have raised. What
is the reason?
- Today we managed to first of all assist the poorer, needy groups. In
this respect we have distributed the first 300 tons of barley seeds to
23 more insecure people living in remote areas and included in the
list of the Territorial Administration Ministry and the rest 165 tons
of elite seeds was distributed to seed-growing farms for the
organization of reproduction of seeds. As to the increase of prices
for fertilizers, diesel, it is connected with the international
market. If in case of fertilizers the state can oversight or restrict
the inflation in case of oil products the main dictator is the
international market.
- One of the prior directions in the province is tourism. What is
being done for the development of the sphere?
- The tourism in the province is noticeably developing during the
recent years. But I think that today we are using very small part of
it. The problem is that the summer tourism is developing in the
province but it lasts for 2-3 months. While the existence of Lake
Sevan and the long lasting winter are very favorable for the
development of the winter tourism. Not only people from the capital
and other provinces but also from Iran, Russia and number of European
countries are coming here.
We have big expectations from Izer province, we are already
cooperating with its leadership. But for developing tourism we need
big investments, efforts and time. In parallel to building of hotel
complexes it is necessary to build streets, improve the roads taking
to monuments, create and develop institutions of tourism significance.
But the most important thing today is ensuring the cleanness of the
water of Lake Sevan.
- A number of rural roads are in desperate situation. Their
reconstruction may solve a number of issues both connected with
agriculture and tourism. I particularly speak about
Karmirgyugh-Gavar-Noratus, Hrazdan-Zovaber-Ddmashen and a number of
others.
- The enumerated roads are included in the "Millennium Challenge"
program. For bringing these programs to an end the Armenian government
continues searching new ways. Currently large volume construction
works are underway in the territory of Tchambarak. The road
construction here needs bigger investments and more time.
- The outgoing work continues to be the major source of income in the
province. What is being done to help people find jobs in the homeland?
- The outgoing work in the province was widely spread during the
soviet years and people were mainly interested in big incomes. The
formed tradition take our working men abroad. It is better to have
outgoing work than to deal with emigration. But our goal is to keep
people here and the government must carry out programs and invest
money here. In this case I am sure we will need both jobs and labor
force. I tie big hopes with the construction of Iran-Armenia railway,
road construction investment programs, development of small and
medium-sized business as a result of which the province will change
its face saying farewell to poverty and social tension.
From: A. Papazian
17:02, 2 May, 2011
GAVAR, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS:
Armenpress news agency spoke with the governor of the Armenian
province of Gegharkunik Nver Poghosyan about the programs directed
toward reducing the poverty and immigration in the province,
improvement of the quality of life of its population.
- Mr Poghosyan, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan points out the
necessity of development of agriculture and the importance of events
directed toward its improvement. What steps are being carried out to
facilitate the burden of farmers in the province?
- During my tenure I always keep under the spotlight the village and
farmers. The investments during the recent years were directed toward
the sphere of agriculture as well. The fact that the irrigation lands
increased by 2000 hectares, separate communities received agricultural
engineering, rural roads have been reconstructed show that we have
tried to assist the farmers as much as we could. Another issue is that
the means were limited and they were not enough.
Two years ago the government's agricultural subsidies to the economies
of the province exceeded 1 billion AMD as a result the corn fields
noticeably increased. Today the demand still exists but our means are
limited.
During different years the rural economies applied to banks but failed
to pay back both because of natural disasters and failure to sell
their products. On the other hand the interest rates were high. With
the assignment of the Armenian president the mentioned interest rates
decreased from 24% to 14 of which 4% is subsidized by the government.
And today the farmer can make use of these credits paying 10% interest
rate annually. Besides, now the loans are being provided not for one
but for two years and in drams. The last circumstance is very
important as till now the farmers were getting loans in the USD and
the exchange fluctuations caused losses to them.
- In certain rural communities people complain that they did not get
seeds and that the prices for fertilizers and fuel have raised. What
is the reason?
- Today we managed to first of all assist the poorer, needy groups. In
this respect we have distributed the first 300 tons of barley seeds to
23 more insecure people living in remote areas and included in the
list of the Territorial Administration Ministry and the rest 165 tons
of elite seeds was distributed to seed-growing farms for the
organization of reproduction of seeds. As to the increase of prices
for fertilizers, diesel, it is connected with the international
market. If in case of fertilizers the state can oversight or restrict
the inflation in case of oil products the main dictator is the
international market.
- One of the prior directions in the province is tourism. What is
being done for the development of the sphere?
- The tourism in the province is noticeably developing during the
recent years. But I think that today we are using very small part of
it. The problem is that the summer tourism is developing in the
province but it lasts for 2-3 months. While the existence of Lake
Sevan and the long lasting winter are very favorable for the
development of the winter tourism. Not only people from the capital
and other provinces but also from Iran, Russia and number of European
countries are coming here.
We have big expectations from Izer province, we are already
cooperating with its leadership. But for developing tourism we need
big investments, efforts and time. In parallel to building of hotel
complexes it is necessary to build streets, improve the roads taking
to monuments, create and develop institutions of tourism significance.
But the most important thing today is ensuring the cleanness of the
water of Lake Sevan.
- A number of rural roads are in desperate situation. Their
reconstruction may solve a number of issues both connected with
agriculture and tourism. I particularly speak about
Karmirgyugh-Gavar-Noratus, Hrazdan-Zovaber-Ddmashen and a number of
others.
- The enumerated roads are included in the "Millennium Challenge"
program. For bringing these programs to an end the Armenian government
continues searching new ways. Currently large volume construction
works are underway in the territory of Tchambarak. The road
construction here needs bigger investments and more time.
- The outgoing work continues to be the major source of income in the
province. What is being done to help people find jobs in the homeland?
- The outgoing work in the province was widely spread during the
soviet years and people were mainly interested in big incomes. The
formed tradition take our working men abroad. It is better to have
outgoing work than to deal with emigration. But our goal is to keep
people here and the government must carry out programs and invest
money here. In this case I am sure we will need both jobs and labor
force. I tie big hopes with the construction of Iran-Armenia railway,
road construction investment programs, development of small and
medium-sized business as a result of which the province will change
its face saying farewell to poverty and social tension.
From: A. Papazian