In the conditions of the illegal Azerbaijani blockade, the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) have to promote local production in order to solve the problem of food security. Vrezh Melkumyan founded the greenhouse in 2021. And that is when, as a result of the 44-day war, the 7-hectare garden belonging to him remained under the control of the enemy.
Vrezh Melkumyan (farmer) - We have to do it day and night, he who is sitting idle is the one who complains. It can't be done that way.
Everything in the greenhouse is Vrezh's handiwork, from the automatic ventilation system to the wood waste heating boiler, which he put into operation during the Azerbaijani blockade of the gas pipeline from Armenia to Artsakh.
Vrezh Melkumyan - I brought and planted 1200 seedlings, again grown by myself. You see, we are planting a pepper seedling, again grown by my own hands, we are going to plant beans today, and we must continue to work without being broken.
The demand for fruits and vegetables is high in the besieged Artsakh. In order not to face the same problem next year, in the Khnapat community of Askeran region, the volumes of spring planting have been significantly increased.
Samvel Shahramanyan (head of Khnapat community) - Once in our village only a few people were engaged in spring sowing, today they sow hectares of potatoes, greenhouse farms are developing rapidly. Young people are really, as the people of Karabakh say, working "with their necks down" so that we can at least, if this blockade continues for a long time, next year not have the same problems that we faced during the blockade.
Since the Stepanakert-Goris road is closed, driver Sargis Hayrapetyan is engaged in farming. He built the greenhouse recently at the suggestion of his sons. In favorable weather, the seedlings have already been moved from the closed ground to the open field.
Sargis Hayrapetyan (farmer) - I have been doing this business for 2.5 months, it is normal, usual. I am planting greens for the first time being unexperienced. It is OK, we learn little by little, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little.
This year, Nver Gabrielyan suffered great losses due to the blocking of the gas pipeline and the lack of diesel fuel. In Askeran, on 4,000 square meters, he grows cucumbers, tomatoes, squash and peppers. Half of the plants were frostbitten, but they planted seedlings again, heating is provided with self-made stoves.
Nver Gabrielyan (farmer) - We don't burn anything during the day, thank God, it's warm, but after 20:00 we burn diesel again for 12 hours at night until morning. In the past, there was a day when we burned more than a ton or 800 liters, and now 300 liters, 400 liters, up to 500 liters, despite the cold.
As a result of the blocking of the Lachin Corridor, the people of Artsakh continue to buy fruits, vegetables and some products with coupons.
