ArmInfo. As of today total debt of processing plants to farmers for grape purchased in 2015 totals 105 mln drams, Vinar LLC owes 84 mln drams of the total debt, Deputy Agriculture Minister of Armenia Robert Makaryan stated on January 19 after the government session.
Makaryan recalled that at the end of 2016 the Ministry of Agriculture applied to the General Prosecutor's Ofice to restore violated rights of farmers related to non-paid debts by the processing plants. "The General Prosecutor's Office studies the case and it will be legally solved", he stated.
According to the Ministry's data as of December 21 the total debt of 6 processing plants for grape (Sisavan Wine Plant, Areni Vine, Shato Arno, Shahnazaryan, Maran and Vinar) to farmers of Kaghtsrashen, Aygepat, Aygezard, Norashen, Shahumyan and Narek totaled 155.5 mln drams, 100 mln of which were debts of Vinar LLC. "One or two companies will be provided loans to redeem the debts. However, the main problem relates to Vinar Company", Deputy Minister Robert Makaryan stated.
To note, according to the Ministry's data in 2015, processing enterprises procured grapes for 31.5 billion drams. As of December 21 2016 as many as 50 companies procuring grapes purchased 109.8 thsd tons of grapes. The average procurement price of grapes was 128.8 AMD per 1 kg, which is 16.3 AMD lower than in 2015.
