Nearly half of Armenia's arable land lies uncultivated, analyst warns

Nearly 50% of Armenia’s arable land remains uncultivated, placing much of it at risk of desertification and exposing deep structural problems in the country’s agricultural sector, political analyst Tigran Dumikyan warns.

Despite repeated government pledges to develop agriculture, official data from the past eight years indicate limited progress, he said in a social media post on Saturday. For a country facing serious food security challenges, effective use of agricultural land should be a top priority, yet current trends suggest the opposite.

More than 70% of Armenia’s arable land faces irrigation problems, according to the analysis. Nearly half of household orchards and vegetable plots also lack access to irrigation water although the country generates an average of about 7 billion cubic meters of water annually, of which only around 2 billion cubic meters are used.

Dumikyan described the situation as a governance crisis, arguing that national resources are being neglected. Armenia has approximately 317,000 registered farms, yet employment in the sector stands at just 17.6%, highlighting as underutilization and systemic inefficiencies.

At the core of the problem, he said, is the absence of a guaranteed procurement system. Many farmers have stopped cultivating their land after being unable to sell produce, often grown with borrowed funds. Without reliable market access, he argued that farmers face unacceptable financial risks.

Dumikyan also questioned official figures recently unveiled by Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan on agricultural programs implemented over the past four and a half years. He said the data do not provide a full picture, particularly regarding whether small and medium-sized farms have benefited proportionately compared with larger agricultural enterprises.

According to the analyst, sustainable reform requires improved governance, a clear development strategy and professional management. He pointed to the Strong Armenia party, led by businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, as offering a comprehensive and professionally grounded alternative, particularly in agriculture.

“Otherwise, more regions could follow the example of Vayots Dzor Province, where about 76% of arable land is uncultivated,” he said.