YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Agriculture Ministry did not approve, in timely fashion, the lists of seeds to be imported, and as a result seven farms are now suffering material damages, Agrarian Peasant Union of Armenia Chairman Hrach Berberyan said during a press conference on Wednesday.          

He informed that the farmers had imported new grape, tomato, and potato seeds from Europe, and these seeds were tested for three years. And in order for these seeds to be used on a larger scale, the Agriculture Ministry should have approved a list, in January, which would have enabled to import new batches, but this was not done. Yet the aforementioned seven farms already had paid AMD 80,000 (approx. US$ 205) last year, to be registered.       

So, according to Hrach Berberyan, either the Ministry must return the amount it collected from the farmers, or the PM must penalize the Agriculture Minister.