Only after threats from high-ranking Russian officials did the Armenian government, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, hold consultations and discuss the possibilities of increasing local wheat production volumes.
It is unclear why the authorities have failed to raise the self-sufficiency level of wheat over the past eight years, according to the executive's statement. It is only known that until now the government has not even mapped suitable and uncultivated land for wheat. Only at the meeting held this week did Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan give such an instruction:
Armenia is heavily dependent on Russian wheat supplies. The authorities, aiming for the European Union, have not only failed to reduce this dependence but, on the contrary, local production volumes have decreased in previous years:
In recent months, the issue of Armenia's dependence on Russian wheat has also been highlighted amid economic restrictions imposed by Moscow, although so far supplies to Armenia have not been restricted — they are carried out, including by rail through Azerbaijani territory:
During the pre-election campaign, Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan assured that Armenia's food security could be protected if Russia took drastic steps:
“The Republic of Armenia has the necessary reserves, the Republic of Armenia has diversified supply sources, the Republic of Armenia receives and will receive stable wheat, and in this regard, our citizens should have no concerns, everything is manageable,” the minister stated:
Official statistics are alarming
Last year alone, Armenia imported more than 332 thousand tons of wheat at a total cost of about 83 million dollars, while the total wheat harvest in Armenia amounted to 132,500 tons. Despite the fact that in recent years the government has implemented various programs to stimulate wheat production and spent millions, the self-sufficiency level is about 23 percent according to 2024 data:
Farmers continue to insist that it is not profitable to grow wheat, and without state support, they cannot make a profit at all:
“These costs won't even cover the 120 or 70 thousand drams provided; if it weren't for them, the farmer would be in the red,” says one farmer:
It is unclear what program will be developed to increase the self-sufficiency level of wheat and in what timeframes:
Each year, the self-sufficiency levels of milk and meat are also decreasing at a rapid pace; if the ruling “Civil Contract” party has not given clear promises regarding wheat production, measurable indicators regarding milk and meat production have been announced during the pre-election period:
