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CHAIRMAN OF AGRARIAN-PEASANT UNION OF ARMENIA ACCUSES AGRICULTURE MINISTRY OF CONCEALING THE FACT THAT CATTLE IS INFECTED WITH SIBERIAN PLAGUE AND AFRICAN SWINE FEVER
arminfo
Friday, November 2, 20:06
The Armenian Agriculture Ministry has concealed the fact of loss of
the cattle because of Siberian plague in Tsovak village of Gegharkunik
region, Chairman of the Agrarian- Peasant Union of Armenia, Hrach
Berberyan, said at today's press conference.
Moreover, but for the activities of the Food Safety Service of the
Agriculture Ministry, the Siberian plague outbreak could remain
undisclosed. According to Berberyan, it was the employees of
this Service that discovered the fact that the cattle in Vardenis
(Gegharkunik region) was infected with aphthous fever in 2011, while
the employees of the Center of Veterinary Sanitary, Food Safety and
Phytosanitary Services denied the fact of infection.
Berberyan thinks that the infection of the cattle with Siberian plague
in Tsovak village could be due to the low quality of vaccine or the
negligence of the vets, who failed to vaccinate the whole livestock
of Tsovak's farmers.
He added that the Agriculture Ministry also conceals the fact that 1-2
cases of African swine fever infection are registered every year. He
also blamed the Ministry for passiveness in the fight against the
potato moth spread in the country.
Berberyan said that in 2011 the Union warned the Ministry about potato
moth found in tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes and tobacco in
the villages of Darakert and Ghukasavan of Ararat region, but the
Ministry did nothing to prevent the pest from spreading.
"If we spent just $25,000 to fight the moth in 2011, it would have
not destroyed harvest in 45 communities this year," Berberyan said,
adding that the Union is ready to provide free seeds to farmers whose
plantations have been damaged by potato moth.
"They in the Ministry say that there are no chemicals that can kill
potato moth but it is not true - there are such chemicals and they
are effectively used worldwide," Berberyan said.
"Unless we take urgent measures, next year potato moth will spread
over 200 communities and in 2014 there will be no uninfected tomato,
eggplant, pepper, potato and tobacco plantations," Berberyan said.
arminfo
Friday, November 2, 20:06
The Armenian Agriculture Ministry has concealed the fact of loss of
the cattle because of Siberian plague in Tsovak village of Gegharkunik
region, Chairman of the Agrarian- Peasant Union of Armenia, Hrach
Berberyan, said at today's press conference.
Moreover, but for the activities of the Food Safety Service of the
Agriculture Ministry, the Siberian plague outbreak could remain
undisclosed. According to Berberyan, it was the employees of
this Service that discovered the fact that the cattle in Vardenis
(Gegharkunik region) was infected with aphthous fever in 2011, while
the employees of the Center of Veterinary Sanitary, Food Safety and
Phytosanitary Services denied the fact of infection.
Berberyan thinks that the infection of the cattle with Siberian plague
in Tsovak village could be due to the low quality of vaccine or the
negligence of the vets, who failed to vaccinate the whole livestock
of Tsovak's farmers.
He added that the Agriculture Ministry also conceals the fact that 1-2
cases of African swine fever infection are registered every year. He
also blamed the Ministry for passiveness in the fight against the
potato moth spread in the country.
Berberyan said that in 2011 the Union warned the Ministry about potato
moth found in tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes and tobacco in
the villages of Darakert and Ghukasavan of Ararat region, but the
Ministry did nothing to prevent the pest from spreading.
"If we spent just $25,000 to fight the moth in 2011, it would have
not destroyed harvest in 45 communities this year," Berberyan said,
adding that the Union is ready to provide free seeds to farmers whose
plantations have been damaged by potato moth.
"They in the Ministry say that there are no chemicals that can kill
potato moth but it is not true - there are such chemicals and they
are effectively used worldwide," Berberyan said.
"Unless we take urgent measures, next year potato moth will spread
over 200 communities and in 2014 there will be no uninfected tomato,
eggplant, pepper, potato and tobacco plantations," Berberyan said.