Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a consultative meeting on the provision of targeted assistance to farmers. Minister of Agriculture Artur Khachatryan introduced a draft program developed to that effect, which provides for direct assistance to certain categories of farmers. It will be implemented as a pilot program in the autumn-winter season.

The Minister said the program shall cover an area of 2,700 hectares, with the amount of State support standing at about 185 million drams. The goal of the project is to increase the level of targeted use of arable land in the country, enhance the grain security standard and mitigate the territorial disproportions. Mr. Khachatryan said that the idea had been discussed during his regional trips, and the overall reaction was quite positive. During the exchange of views that followed, the speakers came up with a number of proposals and recommendations concerning the program.

The meeting next discussed issues related to the efficiency and targeting of State support projects, the availability of diesel fuel, fertilizer, seeds, the selection of beneficiary communities, cooperatives and other issues.

Summing up the discussion, the Prime Minister underscored that the Government has taken specific steps to support the agricultural sector and increase the effectiveness of State support, and in this regard, it is crucial for the assistance to reach the actual beneficiaries without intermediate links.

“The controversial projects of diesel fuel and seeds that have been referred to much in the press should be given up and transformed into other programs,” the Head of Government said and instructed the responsible officials to explore the proposals within a short period of time and submit the draft to the Government for discussion.