ArmInfo.No risk of cereals deficit in Armenia now, stated Gevorg Ghazaryan, Head of the Food Safety Department.
Comparing the exports from Russia and demand in Armenia, he said no problem can arise. This year's grain yield is 76 million tons, with exports totaling 23 million tons. Armenia's demand is only 300,000 tons.
Armenia has imported 76, 00 tons of wheat, 12,000 tons of barley and 22,000 tons of corn since early 2022.
"And if we compare the annual consumption and with the reserves, we do not forecast any serious risks now," Mr Ghazaryan said.
However, the forecasts by Samvel Avetisyan of the Amberd research center are not so optimistic. Should the Ukrainian-Russian conflict last longer, it will cause a reduction not only in exports, but also in production. In this context, he points out that some Russian regions cannot ensure the previous output now, whereas the spring agricultural works in Ukraine is in danger, which will certainly affect exports.
In this context, Mr Avetisyan highlights the importance of enhancing Armenia's self-sufficiency. Armenia's areas under crops are now 56,000 hectares, and only 50% of Armenia's arable lands. Mr Avetisyan stressed a need for government subsidy programmes in this segment to enhance self-sufficiency.
In the fist half of last year, Armenia's imports of wheat fell down to 65,000 tons or, in money terms, down to $14.4mln. Russia is major importer of wheat (96%). Imports of wheat fell down to 1.6 thousand tons, with the customs value of $1.2mln (a 7.8/5 decline). Armenia imported grain from Russia (97.6%), Argentina (1.6%), Germany (0.6%), Belarus (0.2%), France and the United Kingdom.
