Epress.am News from Armenia
Residents of several rural communities of Armavir marz (province) today held a protest outside the president's office, demanding to ban imports of vegetables from abroad into Armenia. They explain that the import of vegetables harms local producers, as they are unable to sell the produce grown in Armenia.
Participating in the protest, Gai village resident Nerses Yenokyan said the letters and appeals they sent to the relevant authorities have remained unanswered: the state does not support local producers, while the problem gets worse every year.
"The villager has consumed electricity and gas at a high price for heat through the winter, and today he cannot pay his debts. And the state doesn't make concessions, for [the villager] at least to sell his harvest and then make payments. At the end of each month, they come and want their money," he said.
According to him, the market is flooded with cheap vegetables imported from abroad, especially Turkey, which contributes to the stagnation of local vegetables in the market and leads to a low cost price.
"Local vegetables are more eco-friendly and nutritious, while that which is imported is of poor quality and of unknown origin, despite its beautiful appearance," said Yenokyan.
The protestors claimed that residents of nearly all the communities in the Ararat valley are ready to come to the president's office "even in dirty clothes" if only the issue is resolved.
"The villager is suffering, and there is no opportunity to sell his harvest in the market. The agriculture minister says, 'Let's produce more, so that we don't import,' but for that we need opportunities. How can I produce tomatoes, cucumbers by consuming gas at 150 drams?" said another protestor.
Later, those gathered delivered a letter to the Desk for Reception of Citizens, Proposals, Appeals and Claims of the Presidential Oversight Service where staff promised to ensure due process and respond within a reasonable time frame.
In February, Greenhouse Association President Poghos Gevorgyan, in conversation with Epress.am, claimed that tomatoes imported into Armenia from Georgia do not clear customs; as a result, Turkish produce (which goes through Georgia) is sold cheaper than local produce and Armenian agronomists are going bankrupt.