Farmer faces the issue of forage: What does the government think?

This year, farmers of mountainous regions of Armenia are facing a very important issue: lack of forage. Particularly suffered the rural communities of Aragatsotn region, where the deficit of forage made the farmers slaughter a part of their cattle in order to feed the rest.
Lurer.com contacted to the leaders and residents of rural communities of Aragatsotn region.
The head of Ria–Tazay village, Ahmad Broyan confirmed the above mentioned. He noted that farmers who have sufficient financial resources, acquire forage from other parts of Armenia, 1600-1700 AMD for a pack of grass, and those who don’t have the resources, are obliged to slaughter a part of the cattle and sell them, in order to provide forage for the rest with the received money. Broyan also said, that butchers benefit from the situation and buy the meat of the slaughtered cattle with a far lower cost, 1000-1200 AMD per kg.
In response to the question whether the Ministry of Agriculture or the Administration of Aragatsotn initiate anything to support Rya-Taza village or not, A. Broyan replied, that they only offer credits of 8-10% for buying forage or barley and concentrated feed, and they acquire grass from the forests near Aparan, paying 8000-10000 AMD for a hectare, despite the fact, that RA Ministry of Agriculture instructed Armforest, that farmers have the right to acquire grass without paying any money, in order to compensate the deficit of forage.
The situation is the same in Alagyaz, Berqarat, Nerkin Bazmaberd and surrounding rural communities. The residents here, too, complain about the lack of forage and are obliged to solve the issue of deficit in two ways: they either acquire expensive grass packs with their own financial means, or slaughter a part of the cattle in order to feed the rest. Turns out, that the farmer suffers a double damage: is not able to acquire forage or is obliged to sell the meat with far lower cost.
“There is even no one to buy the neat for 1300 AMD, it’s expensive”, Aziz Mhoyan, the head of Alagyaz village said. The head of Berqarat village mentioned in the interview with Lurer.com, that this year they were able to receive only 10 hectares harvest from the 80 hectares of wheat, and the rural community having 1600 cattle, is obliged to slaughter 600 cattle because of the lack of forage.
Residents of Nerkin Bazmaberd village informed, that often they are not even able to sell the meat of the slaughtered cattle: it’s not profitable to sell it with very low price, and the local sale is impossible.
The Deputy Minister of RA Agriculture, Samvel Galstyan mentioned in the interview with “Haykakan Zhamanak” newspaper, that they are aware of the lack of forage in RA rural areas and ordered RA governors to inform farmers through the heads of rural communities, not to burn the grain fields, to gather the thatch and use it as forage. But it’s clear from the interview with rural communities, that the farmers realize that without being warned.
Turns out the RA government is well aware of the lack of forage, but doesn’t initiate real steps to support the farmers. Even after warning Armforest the farmers pay for acquiring grass from the forest.
If the widespread slaughter of the cattle continues with the same temps , then in 2013, not lack of forage, but lack of meat will be observed in Armenia, which, in its turn will significantly increase prices.