30/08/2010 16:22
Armenia’s Seed Development Program kicked off
The Seed Development Program launched today in Armenia, country’s Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdian told media.
Within the framework of the program, in September, 950 tones of elite seeds will be transported to Armenia from Russia, 500 more tones will be bought from local producers and farmers, Minister said.
He also said that Governors of regions had already provided the Ministry with territory for the program. Currently, a program working group is learning the lands in Shirak region of Armenia.
“The specialists will check the lands; and suitable fields will be selected for seeding. The fields must be productive so we could receive next year pure seeds from the first harvest and hand it round to farmers,” said Minister Alaverdian.
Alaverdian said that there are applications from regions for 18,000 hectares of fields, of these total of 5,000 ha will be selected for the program.
Due to the program, Armenian agricultural sector is planning to enlarge the fields up to 125,000-130,000 ha against of current 82,000 ha.