Thursday, 3 April 2014
Government to provide affordable loans to agriculture this year PM calls for more proactive presentation of government programs Livestock diseases to be defied
The government continues with the policy of providing affordable loans to agriculture, which was launched in 2011. During 2011-2013, the Government provided a total of 54.7 billion dram-worth of loans (14 percent interest rate), of which 4 percent subsidized, with 6 percent subsidies made available to 225 most disadvantaged communities.
In 2013 about 22.5 billion-worth of credits were extended in two stages. Since 2011, the number of borrowers reached 83.7 thousand. Today’s meeting amended a previous decree to set a time frame from April 1 through December 31 for subsidized loans.
Addressing the Minister of Agriculture, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said, “Mr. Karapetyan, these programs should be presented more actively. I can see in the media that some people spend a couple of cents to help the farmers, but 200 million is being spent on their own PR. Let them do so, but I cannot understand why they are discrediting the government showing that the government does not provide any assistance to our farmers. This is a disgrace. This is why we should be more active in presenting those farms getting State assistance. It is obvious that we extend much more assistance than the so-called philanthropists. I am hereby asking you to be more active in this area.”
The government approved the farm animal diseases vaccine and diagnostic research program. It is developed and approved each year and aims to keep the epidemic situation in the country under control, by combating brucellosis, tuberculosis, anthrax, tanner and a variety of other diseases.
According to the program, this year the government will purchase the necessary quantities of vaccines, diagnostic agents and disinfectants, preventive measures will be implemented. The program budget has been estimated in accordance with the requirements of the law on procurements, based on contracts signed after properly held tenders.
The meeting approved a State support program for the monitoring of measures against potato moth or tomato moth diseases, under which traps will be used in Ararat and Armavir provinces in order to locate the pests and set deadlines for chemical measures against them.
