Epress.am News from Armenia
Those working in the agricultural sector in several cases made no profit in 2013, as interest rates for the loans they were granted were extremely high, and the repayment period was severely limited. This was stated in the section on agriculture in the annual report recently released by the Ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia.
Among other shortcomings, he notes that the government did not sufficiently compensate those working in agriculture for the damage caused by natural disasters. As a result, thousands of families have been left without a livelihood.
The Ombudsman stresses that the country has not yet resolved the issue of agricultural insurance, as a result of which compensation for damage caused by natural disasters is not guaranteed at all. "The question of implementing a radio location network and installing anti-hail stations in some provinces has not yet been resolved, as a result of which people continue to suffer losses due to hail.
"A sufficient number of slaughterhouses have not been established for the proper implementation of slaughtering livestock. As a result, meat products that were expired and of unknown origin were sold, which poses a threat to the life and health of consumers. The Ministry did not implement effective programs to increase livestock and improve their productivity, as well as to develop the distribution of wheat," the Ombudsman emphasized in the report.