Sigma, Ltd. is an enterprise, developing only pig breeding line. Such a specialization, from owners’ perspective, will give them the possibility to get the excellence and remain competitive on pig market in any conditions. This is the major task of the owners. They are Sanasar and Mger Kujumchian, a father and a son, who unite efforts for the benefit of the common goal. Even now Sigma, Ltd. is between twenty the best Ukrainian pig farms. In spite of the fact, that the company developed in a cut and try method for a long time. However, nowadays, taking into account the gathered experience, plans and owners’ mind, it only remains to ask: “What will be the next achievement?”

— Mr. Sanasar, how did it happen that Ukraine became your second motherland?

S.K.: Not casually. When in 1988 the earthquake destroyed Armenia, Ukrainian organization “Ukrstroy” helped to reconstruct it, and I started to work there. In such a way I got acquainted with many Ukrainians, whom, besides, are still my close friends. That’s why, when I decided to move I wasn’t in two minds with the selection of the country, because I went not to the strange land, but to the motherland of my new friends. I didn’t make a mistake. I didn’t regret. But at the beginning it was very difficult.

You know, the motherland is where you are needed, where you have work and you’re useful. Even though I like Armenia very much, my home is here, in Ukraine.

— Why did the agrobusiness attract you?

Sanasar Kujumchian: The weighty argument was that people involved in the agriculture do not pay the value-added tax and profit tax, and even have tax deductions. From the other hand, I am from the village, and we always had animal stock at home, that’s why the agriculture was very close for me, but I should honestly confess, I had “elementary knowledge”.

— Why did you choose pig production? As a mathematician, you, probably, calculate everything beforehand?

S.K.: Unfortunately, the knowledge of mathematics is not enough to make such calculations! The specialists (pig producer and economists) helped me to choose pig production. Though the own experience played the role.

M.K.: You’ve told about calculations… Actually, during the 12 years we have been building our company from mistakes. When father started his business we didn’t have much money. And we had no idea how to do the reconstruction. One building we made over three times: for the first time how we could, for the second time — how it happened, the “good specialist” advised, and only for the third time we did it understanding the task. We have been building in a right way only for the last two years. Building, reconstruction and perfection is the permanent situation in our company!

— “Sigma” continues the tradition of family farms. Mger, you have juridical education, indeed, what induced you to join the business, started by your father?

Mger Kujumchian: Honestly speaking, I had some doubts. But, this is my father’s business, and I think, that my duty is to continue it with dignity. I will be happy, if my son will do in the same way. Why do we need to reinvent the wheel? There is the business, everything you need is to carry it on correctly.

— Sanasar Yerlandovich, how did you come to the name “Sigma”?

S.K.: Per aspera ad astra, means through the difficulties to the stars. We didn’t know that “Sigma” would become our main business, there were some others before it “Phoenix”, “Capital”… I even couldn’t remember all names. There was a time when we exported cattlehides. However with “Sigma” happened in the other way. Evidently, the name worked out by itself, in the mathematics this symbol means the sum. It is sum of our experience and efforts. It was chosen at random, without putting in any sense, but got to the point .

— How do you estimate the role of the state in the sector development?

S.K.: It stands apart in Ukrainian pig production: doesn’t help and doesn’t stand on the way. Why should it meddle? The market is good, there are a lot of customers, and we have the wheat, Ukraine is the agricultural country anyway! We don’t pay the profit tax, we keep value added tax. What do we need more?

— What is Sigma today?

— What is the directors’ point of view on vertical integration?

— What is the source of money for pig production development?

— How is the quality of the raw material for the feed mill controlled?

You can find answers for these and other questions in the full version of the interview in the magazine “Profitable Pig Production”, №4 (16) 2013.