No bread shortages expected in Armenia, farmer says
Armenia will not face bread shortages due to Russia’s decision to ban wheat exports to the Eurasian Economic Union until August 31, according to farmer Harutyun Mnatsakanyan, who used to grow grains in Artsakh territories for several years before they were occupied by Azerbaijan in 2020 war.
In a public post on Facebook on Saturday, he explained that those firms importing grains have already imported enough wheat during the harvest in August-September, when prices are lower.
In addition, flour exports to the EAEU are not banned, he said.
“Even if there is a shortage, Russia will grant certain quotas for obvious reasons. The main purpose of this ban is the following: there are risks that not enough crops will be produced in Russia this year because of financial difficulties, thus they are storing additional volumes,” Mnatsakanyan said.
“After the harvest in 2022, they will see how much stock they have, to what extent they will be self-sufficient, and how much can be exported,” he noted.
However, the farmer warned of possible increase in grain prices as the ban is expected to affect small businesses, that restrain the price hikes.
He says the claims of the authorities that no problems will arise are based on “one-sided and incomplete” analysts.
“The livestock and poultry industries of the country, which, not having a lot of money, make imports weekly, monthly or quarterly, as needed, will suffer greatly, because they will not be able to import barley and corn,” Mnatsakanyan said.
“If the large entrepreneurs have made grain imports, they will raise the prices, farmers will have to buy them at a high price, which will affect the prices of meat and eggs, respectively. This poses great risks, because the products may become uncompetitive with imported ones, and there will be a sharp decline in livestock with all ensuing negative impacts,” he stated.
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