VivaCell:25 million AMD of assistance to Village Assistance Fund

The funds provided by VivaCell-MTS were used for obtaining seeds of orchard crops, which will be distributed to farmers from Armavir region who have suffered from hails, and for planting stock of pepper

June 15, 2011, Yerevan, Armenia – VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile TeleSystems” OJSC, informs that AMD 25 million was allocated for supporting Armenian farmers in Armavir region, which suffered the most from hails and rainfalls.

The sphere of agriculture is identified as a top priority for the country’s economy and one of the major drivers of GDP growth.
Unfortunately, frequent heavy rain falls and hails in May-June have caused serious damage to farms in a number of villages in Armenia, primarily in Armavir and Aragatsotn. As a result, farmers are at risk the danger of losing their precious harvest and staying without revenue.

In order to mitigate the consequences of the hail and support the farmers who have suffered the most, the Ministry of Agriculture has asked the Union of Businessmen, IT-enterprises, banks and private entrepreneurs for help, and VivaCell-MTS was the first to respond to that call and render assistance to the Agriculture and Village Assistance Fund functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture in the amount of AMD 25 million. These means were used by the Ministry of Agriculture for buying seeds of orchard crops. Starting Monday the Ministry is distributing them to farmers who have suffered most as a result of the recent hails.

VivaCell-MTS cannot be indifferent to the needs of Armenian farmers who cultivate our ancient land and feed the Nation despite risk of yield loss caused by hails and rainfalls, and ultimately face risks of non returning the agricultural loans. The Company is driven by the belief that agriculture, one of the drivers of the national economy providing jobs to hundreds of thousands of people, should be supported by all means in order to reduce work emigration, promote local production as well as to secure the competitiveness of Armenian agricultural production in the domestic market.