Armavir wine growers blocked Armavir-Yerevan highway demanding to revise purchase price for grapes

ArmInfo. The wine-growers of the Armavir region blocked the Armavir-Yerevan highway and are demanding a revision of the purchase price of the grape from the Armavir branch of the ''Ararat'' Yerevan Brandy Factory.

The villagers claim that 120-130 drams offered by the purchaser do not even cover the cost price and the costs that they spent on cultivation.  Wine growers say they had signed a procurement contract with ''Proshyan'' plant at a price of 160 drams per 1 kg, but after the ''Ararat'' factory announced a price of 140-130 drams, Proshyan plant and other companies buying grapes reduced the purchase price.  Villagers claim that "Ararat" dictates the price in the market.

Gagik Gabrielyan, Deputy Governor of Armavir region, arrived to the place of the protest, trying to study the situation. There is no common price for grape offered by the companies. During the past 3-4 days grape was purchased by plants at 160 AMD for 1kg based on the quality of grapes. While today the brandy factory announced a purchase price of 140 drams, which is 10 drams higher than last year.  Since Ararat factory is the main grape purchaser, other companies follow it when determining the purchase price. The current situation testifies to this. as soon as ''Ararat''  announced the purchase price of 140 drams, the cost of grapes in the market mechanically from dropped. Villagers are demanding the return of the former purchase price -. 160-170 drams ", G.Gabrielyan told reporters.

In turn, Artsrun Sargsyan, the manager of the Armavir branch of the Ararat Brandy Factory, told reporters that the grape growers have not appealed to them so far. "Today our factory announced a purchase price of AMD 140. If the wine growers have any demands, the plant is ready to consider them according to the procedure. We have announced the price every year and you have agreed. This year the wine growers do not agree with the price. I will transfer their demands to the leadership of the plant, "A. Sargsyan said.

Wine growers intend to keep the highway blocked unless the leadership of the plant decides the final price of grape.