European vegetables not favored, local vegetables will be cheaper soon

The prices for the vegetables and fruits are expected to go down in June. At that, the harvest will not only satisfy the needs of the Armenian market but will be imported as well.

Following Russia, Armenia has banned import of vegetables, specifically cucumbers and pepper in an attempt to prevent penetration of the E. coli bacteria that killed over a dozen of people in Europe. At that, Agriculture Minister Sergo Yeritsyan assured that the deadly bacteria doesn’t threaten Armenia, as vegetables and fruits from Europe has not been imported.

June 4, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net - Nevertheless, the Armenian marker will see no deficit. According to the Minister, the prices for the vegetables and fruits are expected to go down in June, as the harvest will not only satisfy the needs of the Armenian market but will be imported as well. As the Minister said, the government takes relative measures to facilitate development of agriculture. For example, importers of agricultural equipment, fertilizers and chemicals will be exempted from VAT, what in its turn will have a positive impact on prices for agricultural products.

A different situation can occur in Russia, where the prices can rise and the products previously imported from the European countries may be substituted by those from non-European countries, including Armenia.

However, there were rumors that Russia has banned import of vegetables and fruits from Armenia as well. “The reports that Russia has allegedly imposed a ban on import of agricultural products from Armenia are untrue. Armenia continues exporting vegetables and fruits to the Russian market,” the press service of the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture told PanARMENIAN.Net

Researchers are still unable to pinpoint the cause of the E coli outbreak that has hit Germany and other European countries, infecting 1,500 people and leaving 17 people dead.