On 31 July, the young professionals and the CSO/Mass Media representatives visited the RA Ministry of Economy. The visit was organized within the framework of the EU-funded “Budgets for Citizens” program having the aim to familiarize with the measures, priorities and mechanisms for participation of the civil society in the processes in the target areas provided in the Agricultural Budget.

Mr. Arman Khojoyan, the RA Deputy Minister of Economy, and Ms Gayane Atoyan, Head of the Finance and Accounting Department, met with the participants in the Ministry. Before the meeting started, the representative of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association Ms Syuzanna Soghomonyan, and the representative of the Economic Development and Research Center, Ms Lilit Hakobyan, presented the objective of the project, its components and the results that are expected to be achieved during the implementation of the project.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Khojoyan welcomed the participants, and referred to the main priorities and measures of the agricultural sector, which are planned to be implemented in the upcoming budget.

Ms Anush Martirosyan, participant of the budget training program, President of the “Media for Education” NGO, referring to plant protection measures, noted that since 2011, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports initiated a project to build greenhouses in schools, with the aim of teaching children the mechanisms of growing and preserving herbs. However, parallel to this, the resources allocated in the budget for the agricultural sector were reduced by 38.7 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. Ms. Martirosyan was interested whether this reduction will not interfere with the proper implementation of the above-mentioned program and whether the interests of the competent authorities coincide.

In response to the question, Mr. Khojoyan stated that every change in the budget is made according to the priorities of the given period, and the changes are discussed in detail and only then they are accepted.

Participant of the budget training program, journalist of “Asparez” Journalists’ Club Ms Karine Kazarova, wanted to know whether the resources provided for agriculture in the state budget of each year are completely consumed. Addressing the participant’s question, the Deputy Minister of Economy noted that every year the resources intended for the agricultural sector are not only completely consumed, but also exceed the approved annual budget.

The participants also raised a number of questions about the resources intended for the propagation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and exclusively naturally processed foods, the effectiveness of subsidized agricultural loans, food and food safety, agricultural loans, education of citizens in the field of agriculture and other sectoral priorities.

At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the Ministry expressed hope that the civil society will more actively participate in the formation of the budget of the agricultural sector and will come up with a number of recommendations aimed at improving the sector.

Acting Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry Mr. Tigran Aleksanyan, Expert of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Mr. Ashot Hovhannisyan, Ms Sona Simonyan, Senior Specialist of the Agricultural Animal Breeding Department, Mr. Araik Aramyan, Head of the Agro-Processing Support Division of the Agro-Processing Department, Ms Ira Panosyan, Head of Agricultural Programs Elaboration Department, Mr. Armenak Aghajanyan, Head of Agricultural Support Programs Elaboration Division, Ms Ani Hovakimyan, Acting Chief Specialist of Agricultural Support Programs Elaboration Division, Mr. Tigran Andreasyan, Head of Veterinary Department, Merine Atoyan, Head of Consulting Division of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Innovation. Ms Varsik Martirosyan, Head of the Plant Breading Department, Ms Narine Schanyan, Senior Specialist of the Agriculture and Seed Breeding Division of Plant Breading Department attended the meeting as well.

The “Budgets 4 Citizens” (B4C) action (8 December, 2022 – 7 December, 2026) is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union by the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, in cooperation with partners “Economic Development and Research Center” (EDRC) NGO and “Agora Central Europe” NGO (Czech Republic).