‘Make juice at home, jam, compote, preserves, something, but help’: Armenian agricultural exports are at risk

Armenian agricultural exports are at risk. Georgia has temporarily closed its border with Russia due to bad weather. This was announced by the country’s Ministry of Finance.

According to Armenian media, the Verin Lars border checkpoint may remain closed for about 10 days.

Arshaluis Mghdesyan, editor-coordinator of the Media Center project, wrote on his Facebook page: “What is preventing the state from renting a few cargo planes (I believe Armenia has them), negotiating with exporters, and at least quickly delivering fruits and vegetables to Russian or other market? This is just an idea; I do not possess the intricacies of the subject. But given the risk of the Lars being closed for days and the spoiling of apricot harvest, non-standard solutions and alternatives are needed. Without significant and decisive intervention from the state, it is impossible to solve this issue.”

Businessman and farmer Harutyun Mnatsakanyan also took to Facebook: “I appeal to all my friends, Facebook acquaintances and strangers, opposition and government deputies, cabinet members, intellectuals, singers, actors, TikTokers, and Instagram influencers, in short, to everyone. Dear people, the Lars is closed, and there are rumors that it will not reopen for about 10 days during this peak harvest season. If previously farmers sold their apricots for pennies, now they won’t be able to sell at all. I kindly ask you to challenge or call the public to buy apricots, post pictures with apricots. Look, if an average citizen of Armenia buys 6 kg of apricots in a month, it can be said that he will have helped the farmers significantly. In stores, it costs up to 300 drams; at markets, 150-250. Look, 1800 drams for buying apricots in a month is not a lot, it is the same as the tip for a one-time service for many people or for car owners, that’s the money we get from street parking in the city center for three days. Please find a way to buy them. In short, each person should buy 6 kg of apricots a month. Make juice, jam, compote, preserves at home, something, but help, otherwise our horticulture will be seriously affected.”

Let us remind you that due to flooding, the only highway connecting Armenia with Russia has been closed. The Stepanstinda-Lars highway is closed for all types of vehicles. This was reported by the Ministry of Emergency Situations.