Armenian Official Proposes Switching to Rice Instead of Russian Wheat for National Security

A senior Armenian official has suggested that Armenia consider replacing wheat, mostly imported from Russia, with rice grown elsewhere as a way to enhance the country's national security. Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of Armenia's Security Council, said this during a conference held over the weekend in Yerevan. His comments come during rising tensions between Armenia and Russia, especially regarding food imports.

Grigoryan emphasized the need for Armenia to be flexible in sourcing its strategic products, such as wheat, which is a key staple in the country. "We need to be more flexible to prevent others from targeting our strategic products," he said, adding that Armenia could switch from wheat to rice as a potential solution.

"Wheat may be a strategic commodity, but at some point, we could switch to rice, change our habits, and make rice a strategic commodity," Grigoryan continued. He explained that such diversification aligns with the Armenian government’s broader “comprehensive security concept,” aimed at reducing Armenia's dependency on a single source for crucial imports like food.

Grigoryan’s proposal appears to be a direct response to recent criticism from Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry. Last month, Zakharova publicly criticized Grigoryan for participating in a pro-Ukrainian video conference on international food security, held in early September. She pointed out Armenia’s heavy reliance on Russian wheat imports, saying, “Ninety percent of grain comes to Armenia from Russia. Perhaps you [Armenian officials] should contact Russia via video conference to discuss your food security?”

Her remarks show the growing tension between Armenia and Russia, two traditional allies. Zakharova suggested that Armenia was acting “behind the backs of those who feed you and ensure your food security,” further straining the relationship.

Official statistics show that Armenia imports nearly 70% of its wheat, with most of it coming from Russia. In 2023 alone, Armenia imported close to 344,000 tons of wheat from its northern neighbor. This dependency is a huge issue, as Armenia relies on these imports to meet its domestic demand.

However, Grigorian’s suggestion to switch to rice has faced criticism from economic experts. Suren Parsyan, an economist based in Yerevan, dismissed the proposal as lacking economic sense. He pointed out that Armenia does not grow rice domestically, meaning the country would have to rely on large-scale imports, making it just as vulnerable to external factors.

“Our population consumes bread in large quantities, this is one of our national habits which we can’t easily change,” Parsyan said. He also explained that importing rice from distant countries would be more expensive than wheat from Russia, which is currently exempt from import duties and value-added tax under the terms of trade agreements.

The proposal to switch from Russian wheat to other sources is part of a broader effort by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government to reduce Armenia’s dependency on Russia, especially in trade and security matters. Since taking office six years ago, Pashinyan has pledged to diversify Armenia’s foreign policy and strengthen ties with Western countries.

Despite these efforts, Armenia’s trade dependency on Russia has deepened in recent years. In 2023, Russia accounted for over 35% of Armenia’s foreign trade, a big increase from 26.7% in 2017, the year before Pashinyan came to power. Trade between the two countries has grown even further following the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 and the subsequent Western sanctions on Moscow.

While Grigoryan’s proposal for switching to rice is framed as a way to improve national security, the economic realities suggest that such a shift may not be practical in the near future. Wheat is a staple food in Armenia, and switching to rice would require a major change in consumer habits and a new import strategy. Additionally, rice imports would likely be more expensive and less secure than the current wheat imports from Russia.

Russia also remains Armenia’s primary supplier of natural gas, with prices set below international market rates, providing a significant economic advantage to Armenia. Although Moscow has not yet used its economic leverage to pressure Yerevan, the growing tensions between the two countries could eventually lead to a shift in this relationship.

Late last year, Arayik Harutiunyan, the chief of staff for Pashinyan, raised the possibility of a Russian trade embargo. He suggested that the Armenian diaspora could help offset the impact by purchasing more food and beverages produced in Armenia. While such a scenario remains hypothetical, it shows the potential risks Armenia faces as it tries to reduce its dependency on Russia.