Nikol Pashinyan: Support to farmers affected by natural disasters  should not be formal, but effective

ArmInfo. The new Government will necessarily address the issue of effectiveness of anti-hail systems in Armenia, as well as discuss more effective assistance to farmers  affected by natural disasters. This was stated by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on May 11 at a session.

Even before the beginning of the government session, Nikol Pashinyan  asked the Acting  Minister of Agriculture of Armenia Ignaty Arakelyan  reported on the situation that arose as a result of the hail in the  Ararat region of the country that had fallen the day before. As  reported by Arakelyan, to familiarize with the situation in the  region the relevant group is directed. "According to operative data,  the damage has not reached a large scale, but, nevertheless, some  gardens have suffered," he said, adding that damage assessment will  be conducted jointly with the regional structures. Further, the newly  elected prime minister inquired about what steps the government had  previously taken to compensate for the losses incurred.  According to  the established practice, as Arakelyan stated, earlier the government  had the opportunity to make concessions in matters of water charges  or land tax. "More, according to my information, was not provided,"  acting Minister stated.  As Pashinyan noted, this topic should be  returned in the future, since "support should not be formal, but  effective, so that people really feel that the state is making  serious efforts to get out of their difficult situation."

At the same time, the head of government wondered why the anti-hail  systems installed in the country do not cope with the task. As  pointed out by. Minister for Emergency Situations of Armenia David  Tonoyan, the territories that suffered damage as a result of the last  hail were outside the coverage of these systems.  According to him,  today systems cover only 15% of agricultural land in the country.  "Within the framework of the pilot project, there are certain  problems that will be solved with the introduction of a new, modern  system from Russia." It is planned to cover 70% of the lands within  two years, "David Tonoyan said.