Gevorg Papoyan, who chairs the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, told Hetq that some 50,000 hectares of Artsakh land once used to grow grain has been handed over to Azerbaijan.

Papoyan said that this development, coupled with the fact that only 54% of arable lands in Armenia are currently cultivated, might pose a food security risk if food production isn’t increased.

He said that food production volumes can be doubled, noting that this requires an improvement of the country’s irrigation network, including the introduction of drip irrigation.

Papoyan said that each Armenian farmer produces $5,400 dollars’ worth of goods, as compared to $63,000 in Denmark and $94,5000 in Israel.

He said there is a vital need to raise agricultural output by introducing modern farming skills and technologies. in agriculture.

Papoyan said that while Armenian farmers produce enough potatoes, fruits and vegetables, grapes, mutton, production of grains, legumes, pork and poultry lags.

"If we produce pork intensively and achieve a cheap price, we can say that there is a large market for the same grain and legumes," said Papoyan, referring to the EEU market, which affords great opportunities for Armenia.

Papoyan said that the country must increase livestock breeding in mountainous areas.