A Cabinet meeting was held today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Government approved a state support program to bolster winter wheat production in the Republic of Armenia. The program seeks to ease access to high-quality seeds by partially subsidizing or compensating the cost of duly certified winter wheat seeds for those farmers who own 2-20 hectares of wheat plantations in Shirak, Syunik, Gegharkunik, Lori, Aragatsotn, Tavush and Kotayk marzes.

The Prime Minister noted in this connection: “It is very important that we do not give seeds, instead we subsidize the purchase of seeds, and the farmer has to decide where to buy them. In the second record, we made this decision in the context of food security challenges, but it should be noted that it will not be permanent. The program has a very important content feature. Our farmers often use their own wheat as seed, which in turn leads to fewer yields. This is because there is no financial means to buy quality seeds. In this process, we want to show something and achieve a second result. The first is to show that agriculture, in general, and wheat production, in particular, can be quite a profitable undertaking, and secondly, with this support we want to make farmers estimate their next year’s budget ahead of wheat seed procurement. We will implement this program for the next couple of years, so that our farmers form their own budget to cover their sowing seeds,” the Prime Minister said.

The Government amended one of its previous decisions due to the need to expand the slaughterhouse network to facilitate the planned transition to mandatory slaughterhouse killing of farm animals. The amendment suggests subsidizing 15% of the required 20% prepayment for the lease of equipment purchased for mobile or modular slaughterhouses in target communities. The amount of subsidy should not exceed 4.8 million drams.

Prime Minister Pashinyan stressed that the scheme has no alternative, especially amid the ongoing epidemic. “We are likely to face other epidemics and challenges ahead. In general, we must put an end to the practice of slaughtering, selling and buying meat in the streets.”

The Executive approved a proposal to sign an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan on trade and economic cooperation in the field of oil supply. The agreement is supposed to promote cooperation in the field of oil product supplies between Armenia and Kazakhstan. Delivery of oil products from the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Armenia in quantities specified in the agreement shall be exempt from customs duties.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan stressed the need to sign the agreement: “After the signing and ratification of this agreement, Armenia will have the opportunity to import fuel from Kazakhstan under better conditions, which will foster competition in our fuel market. This in turn may have a positive impact on the gasoline market in Armenia.”

In conclusion, the Government decided to carry out construction work in 7 colleges, 46 public schools, 1 professional sports school, 4 museums and 3 theaters.