The peasants in Ararat Region are forced to refrain from land cultivation, as they have no money either for water, or ploughing or for seeds. They have to work for rich land owners for about 3000 AMD per day. This problem persists – this is the opinion of the round-table participants held by ‘EcoLur’ on 5 April in the frames of “Make Your Voice Heard” program inAraratAarhusCenter.

“At present only several families cultivate their land areas. My daughter has 9000 square meters of land areas, but she can’t do anything. Under the law, she has to make an advance payment for water. But there is no money: the peasant doesn’t receive any salary – they must cultivate the land, get harvest and then make payments. ” But Agriculture Ministry says on TV, “We support peasants.” This is not true…loans are issued, but it only harms. Seeds were brought, but it’s unknown who it was distributed to. Time will come and no land will be cultivated. Only the rich will live on this land,” said Seda Darbinyan, Chairman of Women’s Council of Ararat.

 “The government states on TV that it helps peasants, it will provide funds to people, while secretly gives orders not to make any pampering without payment, not to supply with water, if payments are not made. Let you go and complain, do whatever you want to,” approves Tigran Matevosyan responsible for theCenterofProtecting Interestsin Ararat.

UnderAraratAarhusCenter,AraratValleyhas already lost about 30,000 ha of plough land areas that promote to intensive desertification process.