YEREVAN.  – It’s a shame that Armenia is importing tomato paste from China, Agrarian Peasant Union of Armenia Chairman Hrach Berberyan said during a press conference on Tuesday.   

Armenia used to cover 25 % of the demand in tomato paste during the Soviet times. Nowadays the farmers avoid sowing vegetables in the areas of the Ararat valley that are damaged by tomato moth.

The Union submitted to the government a 350-million AMD program to combat moth, but the government reduced the project to 20 million.

“The funds are enough for one or two villages. Meanwhile, around 50-60 villages are affected,” Berberyan said.