Expert criticizes proposal to replace wheat with rice in Armenia; prices could increase 4.5 times

Armenian economist Suren Parsyan has criticized a proposal by the Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, to replace wheat with rice to improve food security, due to the potential for increased costs and complete dependence on imports. In 2023, Armenia imported 343,562,290 kg of wheat at a low price per kilogram and 9,882,140 kg of rice at a higher price, indicating a fourfold cost increase if the country were to switch to rice. Additionally, rice is not produced domestically in Armenia, meaning the country would have no food self-sufficiency and would be completely reliant on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India.

Economist Suren Parsyan sharply criticized the proposal made by Armenia’s Secretary of the Security Council to replace wheat with rice as a means of ensuring the country’s food security, pointing out the significant cost increase and complete dependence on imports. In a conversation with BMG, Armenian economist Suren Parsyan analyzed the recent statement by Armenia’s Secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, regarding the possibility of replacing wheat with rice to strengthen the country’s food security. Parsyan’s analysis indicates that such a decision could have serious negative consequences for Armenia’s economy and population. According to the data cited by the economist, in 2023, Armenia imported 343,562,290 kg of wheat at a customs value of $0.18 per kilogram. At the same time, rice imports amounted to 9,882,140 kg at a price of $0.82 per kilogram. Parsyan emphasizes: “This means that switching from wheat to rice would force our citizens to pay 4.5 times more.” ...