Armenian entrepreneurs propose to cut milk powder imports, Vazgen Safaryan, head of the Union of Domestic Commodity Producers of Armenia, told journalists on Tuesday.
In his words, fresh milk output is shrinking in Armenia because of large volumes of milk powder imports, and this is affecting agriculture.
Safaryan said that the necessity of reducing milk powder imports would be discussed with the agriculture minister.
«This will increase villagers’ interest in cattle breeding and dairy production and will also spur development of other industries, for example leather and shoe industries,» he said.
Refraining from pointing out volumes of the imported milk powder, Safaryan only said that milk output in Armenia grew just 4.2% in 2015 to 448 million liters.
The National Statistical Service of Armenia says 447.9 million liters of milk were produced in the country in 2015 (4.2% growth). Remarkable is that official statistical reports contain no data on milk powder imports.
According to the agriculture ministry’s latest figures, some 688 tons of milk powder were brought to Armenia in Jan-May 2015 – 38 tons less than at the same period a year before.
http://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenian_entrepreneurs_propose_to_cut_milk_powder_imports/
