ArmInfo. On December 8, the representatives of the farm enterprises of Ararat and Tavush provinces gathered near the Armenian Government building. They demanded repaying the debts for the procured grapes. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Robert Makaryan promised that all the debts will be repaid by the end of the current year.
Makaryan said that the total debt of the procuring companies to the farm enterprises of Qaghtsrashen, Aygepat, Aygezard, Norashen, Shahumyan and Narek communities is 145.2 mln AMD. Nearly 30% of this amount, or 50 mln AMD is the share of Vinar LLC.
The deputy minister noted that earlier the Ministry of Agriculture held negotiations so that those buying alcohol from Vedi Alco could buy it from Vinar as well. However, the process was suspended and the buyer refused to continue the purchase. On November 28, the Ministry applied to various companies. "As a result, the following mechanism was worked out: a loan will be provided to Proshyan Brandy Factory, which will purchase alcohol from Vinar so that the latter could repay its debts to the farmers," Makaryan said, adding that the Proshyan Brandy Factory will shortly give its reply.
Makaryan also expressed hope that the debts owed to the farmers will be repaid before the end of the year. "All the procedures will be completed within the shortest time possible," he said.
To note, according to the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture, as of 7 December 2016, as much as 675 mln AMD has already been paid to the farmers, while the total debt is 820 mln AMD. In 2015, the processing enterprises purchased grapes worth 31.5 bln AMD.
