While the Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan tells priests to bless the fields for abundant harvest, while the President calls upon the government to turn its face to the village, the village is roaming from his village, his home and country.
The majority of the villagers did not receive this year’s potato seeds provided by the government, they say, here also works the well-known principle of relatives, acquaintance or friend, gets the one who is closer with the village community members. Residents of Masis region recommend the minister of the village, instead of speaking, at least once visit their fields and get acquainted with the real problems of farmers.
Now it is just the season to collect potatoes in Masis, it is even late. Farmers are deferring to collect, as after collecting there is a problem in selling, while last year it cost 150 drams per kg, and this year it costs 40 per kg. Many of the villagers have taken a loan, but the harvest decreased so much that they cannot earn even the half amount of the crop. The villager told us that next year he will not be engaged in agriculture.
On September 9, Masis city Mayor elections are to be held, but the villagers are not related in any way to the elections. Each time during the elections promises are made and there are no results at all.
“During elections they are walking in the streets, saying dear people choose us, choose the good, we choose and everything is bad at the end; I am not going to take part in the elections”.
Masis Mayor candidates are 3 from PA party; Avetik Dallakyan, Dmitri Nazaryan and the vice Mayor of Masis Karapet Ohanyan. Sasha Hakobyan the nominated candidate is from RAP. The latter worked in the position of Mayor for 9 years. Non-party nominated candidates are Xoren Aroyan, Tigran Ghambaryan, Razmik Mnatsakanyan and N: 5 school’s janitor Norayr Nahapetyan.
Sashik Hakobyan made a claim on August 13’s shots and stated that the shootings are not related to the election contest, and the two parties PAP and RAP are in friendly relations.
One thing became clear in our contact with the villagers…farmers have no expectations from the state. The farmer alone fights with the land and lives with a hope that tomorrow will be a better day.
