Armenia will import less wheat than usual

In 2014 Armenia will be able to produce 340-360 thousands of tons of wheat instead of the 160,000 tons projected for 2010 if the wheat seed production program is successfully implemented, Armenia's Agriculture Minister Gerasim Alaverdyan said at a Government session today.

According to Alaverdyan, in that way Armenia will in 2014 be able to produce 55 per cent of the wheat it consumes.

Currently that number makes up 37 per cent.

Further Alaverdyan mentioned that that program envisages importing 1000 tons of elite species of wheat seed to be given to those farmers who have 3 hectares of arable lands assuming that they will return twice as much wheat as the quantity provided.

Currently Armenia consumes 650-720 thousands of tons of wheat per year.

The Government will spend 558 million AMD this year for the implementation of that program.