Armenia also faces wheat problems

The current problems in wheat prices have also affected the situation in Armenia. The ban on Russian wheat exports has influenced the world market including Armenia. Armenia imports most of its wheat from Russia – around 400,000 tonnes. Lands sown with wheat in Armenia itself are decreasing. If in 2005 wheat was produced on an area of 132 000 hectares, in 2008 this figure was 93 000. The former chairman of Armenia’s central bank Bagrat Asatrian stated that there is just 2 weeks' worth of wheat reserves in the country. Asatrian believes that the increase in the price of wheat and wheat products in Armenia is also very much dependent on the interests of certain oligarchs; these oligarchs, according to Asatrian, artificially aggravate the situation.