Tweet
NEW APPROACHES IN THE STATE POLICY OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=907:n ew-approaches-in-the-state-policy-of-agricultural-support&catid=6:economy&Itemid=18
Wednesday, 23 January 2013 17:18
The fact that billions of drams are directed to the agricultural
development programs in Artsakh is considered natural by everybody.
After all, this economic sphere is proclaimed strategic, and the
necessity of ensuring its effectiveness is justified not only by
economic, but also social factors. Realizing the importance of this
goal, a series of government programs aimed at the development
of any agricultural sphere started 4 or 5 years ago. Positive
developments are available. But, the existing indexes are difficult
to be considered equivalent funds invested in the development of
the agrarian sector. The government offers news approaches in the
agricultural development. In this case, the potential beneficiaries -
farmers - will be interested not just in getting government support,
but in its most efficient use.
The results of the discussions recently held in the government were
presented to the Martuni region executives by high-ranking officials
who had arrived in the regional center, with President Bako Sahakyan at
the head. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ara Harutyunian,
Ministers of Agriculture and Finance and head of the Fund for Rural
and Agricultural Support. As assured by the head of state, sufficient
part of the limited resources was invested in the agriculture, but
the results do not justify this. Moreover, even without using any
special efforts one can find facts that the state support does not
reach its goal. This, first of all, concerns the financial assistance
and diesel provided for planting and plowing.
Part of the funds, provided as assistance, is not used purposefully,
and the fuel is often at the shadow market. As a result, the borrowers
find themselves in a difficult situation. The Minister of Agriculture
assures that these facts can be seen even without any special efforts.
Here is another detail. Unlike the assistance provided in cash and
in the form of diesel fuel, the number of statements regarding the
production of fertilizers is small. And the reason for this, as the
community leaders assure, is fear. For instance, along with seed-,
fuel- and financial assistance, a land user gets also fertilizers.
Even in case of crop failure and damage caused to the fields by hail,
he should be able to repay the interest-free loan. That is why many
of the land users prefer to work on the land with minimal costs",
noted head of the Ashan community Norayr Khachatrian. In this case,
we are talking about the need to implement an agricultural insurance
system, which, however, was not discussed that day.
Community leaders do not deny that cases of improper use of the state
assistance in place are not excluded. But, they assure that the cases
are not widespread. And sometimes, though it may sound strange, there
are objective reasons for this, as, for example, in the case of diesel
sale. "Well, people spent timely plowing and sowing, surely, purchasing
fuel. And the diesel fuel provided as state assistance came to the
land user with a delay, in mid-December. It is clear that he will try
to sell it", said head of the Chartar community Vladik Hovhannisyan.
Regardless of anything, the situation remains unchanged: 200 million
of the available 660 million AMD of overdue loans belong to the
Martuni region. However, the top officials of the Republic came to
Martuni not for the numbers, but for the need to find a way out of the
situation via joint efforts. After all, the assistance is provided,
the return of loans is ensured to some extent, but the desired
increase in the productivity indexes is not fixed. In the Martuni
region, which achieved good results in this direction in the past,
the existing situation is particularly depressing. "Today, our primary
task is not to ensure the return of the loans. We must take steps to
improve the crop yields, and not only for wheat", said Prime Minister
Ara Harutyunian. Cultivation of wheat for many years has led to the
land depletion, and in this case even crop rotation is not able to
provide radical changes. New crops squeeze from the ground all was
left by wheat, the Prime Minister expresses the concern of experts,
advising to take seriously the necessity of fertilizing the land. What
is the solution? The government members came to Martuni with new
proposals. In accordance with this, further support will be provided
not in the process of cultivation, but the possibility of realizing
the crop at prices above the calculated cost will be guaranteed. Or,
even before receiving the crop the land user will know at what minimum
price he will be able to sell his production. This will help ensure
that the land user is interested to get high yield and not to try
to take part of the assistance provided for land cultivation. The
Minister of Agriculture is confident that this will also increase
the demand for fertilizers. In addition, skilled land users will be
also interested in purchasing their own equipment. "Calculating the
cost, we will also take into account the rent for equipment. Surely,
if the works are carried out with their own equipment, the profits
will be greater", said the minister of agriculture.
The community leaders consider the submitted proposals positive. There
is also an additional subtext - in this case, they will have no
problems with the collection of overdue loans. The farmer will
produce his production, the state will guarantee its implementation
at a price above cost, thus laying the foundation for future works
under the next year's crop.
The regional executives will inform the land users of the government's
proposals. Discussions and further details on this issue are still
to take place. Meetings in this format and on this agenda will also
take place in other regions of the republic.
Norayr HOVSEPIAN
From: A. Papazian
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=907:n ew-approaches-in-the-state-policy-of-agricultural-support&catid=6:economy&Itemid=18
Wednesday, 23 January 2013 17:18
The fact that billions of drams are directed to the agricultural
development programs in Artsakh is considered natural by everybody.
After all, this economic sphere is proclaimed strategic, and the
necessity of ensuring its effectiveness is justified not only by
economic, but also social factors. Realizing the importance of this
goal, a series of government programs aimed at the development
of any agricultural sphere started 4 or 5 years ago. Positive
developments are available. But, the existing indexes are difficult
to be considered equivalent funds invested in the development of
the agrarian sector. The government offers news approaches in the
agricultural development. In this case, the potential beneficiaries -
farmers - will be interested not just in getting government support,
but in its most efficient use.
The results of the discussions recently held in the government were
presented to the Martuni region executives by high-ranking officials
who had arrived in the regional center, with President Bako Sahakyan at
the head. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ara Harutyunian,
Ministers of Agriculture and Finance and head of the Fund for Rural
and Agricultural Support. As assured by the head of state, sufficient
part of the limited resources was invested in the agriculture, but
the results do not justify this. Moreover, even without using any
special efforts one can find facts that the state support does not
reach its goal. This, first of all, concerns the financial assistance
and diesel provided for planting and plowing.
Part of the funds, provided as assistance, is not used purposefully,
and the fuel is often at the shadow market. As a result, the borrowers
find themselves in a difficult situation. The Minister of Agriculture
assures that these facts can be seen even without any special efforts.
Here is another detail. Unlike the assistance provided in cash and
in the form of diesel fuel, the number of statements regarding the
production of fertilizers is small. And the reason for this, as the
community leaders assure, is fear. For instance, along with seed-,
fuel- and financial assistance, a land user gets also fertilizers.
Even in case of crop failure and damage caused to the fields by hail,
he should be able to repay the interest-free loan. That is why many
of the land users prefer to work on the land with minimal costs",
noted head of the Ashan community Norayr Khachatrian. In this case,
we are talking about the need to implement an agricultural insurance
system, which, however, was not discussed that day.
Community leaders do not deny that cases of improper use of the state
assistance in place are not excluded. But, they assure that the cases
are not widespread. And sometimes, though it may sound strange, there
are objective reasons for this, as, for example, in the case of diesel
sale. "Well, people spent timely plowing and sowing, surely, purchasing
fuel. And the diesel fuel provided as state assistance came to the
land user with a delay, in mid-December. It is clear that he will try
to sell it", said head of the Chartar community Vladik Hovhannisyan.
Regardless of anything, the situation remains unchanged: 200 million
of the available 660 million AMD of overdue loans belong to the
Martuni region. However, the top officials of the Republic came to
Martuni not for the numbers, but for the need to find a way out of the
situation via joint efforts. After all, the assistance is provided,
the return of loans is ensured to some extent, but the desired
increase in the productivity indexes is not fixed. In the Martuni
region, which achieved good results in this direction in the past,
the existing situation is particularly depressing. "Today, our primary
task is not to ensure the return of the loans. We must take steps to
improve the crop yields, and not only for wheat", said Prime Minister
Ara Harutyunian. Cultivation of wheat for many years has led to the
land depletion, and in this case even crop rotation is not able to
provide radical changes. New crops squeeze from the ground all was
left by wheat, the Prime Minister expresses the concern of experts,
advising to take seriously the necessity of fertilizing the land. What
is the solution? The government members came to Martuni with new
proposals. In accordance with this, further support will be provided
not in the process of cultivation, but the possibility of realizing
the crop at prices above the calculated cost will be guaranteed. Or,
even before receiving the crop the land user will know at what minimum
price he will be able to sell his production. This will help ensure
that the land user is interested to get high yield and not to try
to take part of the assistance provided for land cultivation. The
Minister of Agriculture is confident that this will also increase
the demand for fertilizers. In addition, skilled land users will be
also interested in purchasing their own equipment. "Calculating the
cost, we will also take into account the rent for equipment. Surely,
if the works are carried out with their own equipment, the profits
will be greater", said the minister of agriculture.
The community leaders consider the submitted proposals positive. There
is also an additional subtext - in this case, they will have no
problems with the collection of overdue loans. The farmer will
produce his production, the state will guarantee its implementation
at a price above cost, thus laying the foundation for future works
under the next year's crop.
The regional executives will inform the land users of the government's
proposals. Discussions and further details on this issue are still
to take place. Meetings in this format and on this agenda will also
take place in other regions of the republic.
Norayr HOVSEPIAN
From: A. Papazian