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The situation would be even worse, but for the Armenian government’s intervention in grapes procurement process, Lernik Aleksanyan – an MP of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) – told a press conference today.

“I cannot say that the situation related to grape purchases has been completely resolved as wholesale companies are still unable to pay farmers for grapes purchased from them because these companies are in financial difficulties,” Aleksanyan said.

According to data of Armenian Agriculture Ministry, as of October 13, 2015, grape production in Armenia amounted to 276,000 tons compared with 261,000 tons last year.

196,000 tons of grapes were sold in Armenia as of October 13, 2015 against 184,000 tons last year. Grape exports amounted to 6,400 tons as of today – compared with 4,700 tons over the same period of 2014.

As was reported, on September 25, farmers of several Armenian villages of Ararat province, including Voskepat, Noyakert, Yeghegnadzor, Taperakan, Lusarat, and Pokr Vedi, blocked an interstate highway with trucks loaded with grapes, following a refusal to buy their harvest because of its uselessness. The road was unblocked after Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan met with farmers and promised that the grapes procurement process would be in the center of the government’s attention.