Urgent Tasks of the Food Security of the RA
This study is conducted in the framework of the project “National Security” of “Amberd” research centre of Armenian State University of Economy. The objective of the study is to present main issues of food security in Armenia in the context of world food market developments for the last decade and the membership to the Customs Union, as well as to highlight external and internal threats and to identify the main ways to combat them. The food security threats and assessment methodologies thereof have not been a subject to special studies. The economic literature mainly includes the food security situation analysis and the increase of food production through developing the agricultural sector. The world food market developments and their impact on local market of the Republic of Armenia is also recongnised as a priority. “Food Security and Poverty” bulletin published quarterly and annually by the RA National Statistical Service is an effective measure to assess the food security situation in Armenia. However, the studies identify methodological deficiencies that affect the profound assessment of risks and threats. The same refers to the bulletin issued in Nagorno Karabakh, which also affects the comprehensive and realistic analysis within the context of unified economic area. The membership of Armenia to the Customs Union considers the issue of harmonisation of customs duties, which will have an impact on the food market in Armenia. Thus, it is important to take into consideration the principle of mutual benefits while harmonising the customs duties of inputs for staple food and agricultural products. This issue has been also analyzed in this study. The sample methodology to assess the food security level is introduced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. However, the peculiarities of the country require some modifications of the methodology. Particularly this refers to the constitution and structure of the minimum food basket, to daily food consumption norms assessed by physical quantities and energetic values. The norms were developed based on minimum requirements to combat poverty and need additional scientific justification. A special attention is given to the reliability of basic data on food security assessment, including the improvement of data collection methodology. Precise and practical proposals and relevant implementation directions are given in the study.
