Human rights situation at the Ministry of Agriculture. Ombudsman's speech 2012

The Armenian Ombudsman's office has issued a report focusing on the human rights situation at the Ministry of Agriculture.

The findings, addressing the both positive developments and the shortcomings, are provided below:

Shortcomings

- Though the agriculture sector was offered loans at affordable interest rates in 2012, it failed to retain them, imposing extra-burden on villagers;

- The Ministry failed to ensure proper food security inspection;

- No legal requirements were proposed for using slaughterhouse as a place for killing agricultural animals;

- The timeframes of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) slaughterhouse development project were violated;

- The absence of an agricultural insurance institution remains a key problem in the sector

Positive developments

- The year 2012 saw planned inspections, particularly in the bakery market, which helped reveal and impose sanctions on the businesses violating norms;

- The 2010-2020 Sustainable Development Strategy envisages the implementation of a project aimed to introduce an insurance system in the agriculture sector;

- With the assistance of the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations, agreements were signed with five organizations for opening slaughterhouses in different regions of Armenia.