Who is to blame for downfall in Armenia's agriculture?

Armenia's agriculture is in an inconsolable situation, President of Agrarian-Agricultural Union, Hrach Berberyan told a press conference today.

According to him, the production of both vegetables and fruit has decreased in Armenia this year by 35-40% and 20% respectively compared to 2009 data. The main reason has been widespread pesticide-related diseases.

The pronounced potato yield (550,000 tones) is untrue, he added.

"In fact, this year we are having 320,000-350,000 tones of potatoes. The potato plants have been cut down by about 8,000-10,000 hectares," said he.

Berberyan further mentioned that there has been a 30% cut in crops production. Crops plantations have also been reduced by 10,000 hectares.

"No one is held accountable for that. I will tell something more horrible: the rodents are destroying the new sprouts of wheat," said he, adding that there is what he called a "rodent epidemic" in Armenia.

"Let's be honest! There is a rodent epidemic in Armenia. We were raising the alarm yet in spring. Nothing was done," said he, adding that the chemicals allocated to local municipalities don't reach the farmers.

According to Berberyan, the specialists of Armenia's Ministry of Agriculture have no idea about the needs of the sector, and the current situation is the direct result of what he called "wrong personnel policy" adopted by the Ministry.

He also mentioned that the Agrarian-Agricultural Union has designed a bail-out program that will help solve the urgent problems the sector is currently facing.

"If we start that program now, we will be able to stabilize the situation by next year," explained he.