CROPS IMPACTED BY WEATHER

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
23 May 05

This year too, sudden weather changes affected the crops. In 2004,
because of the sudden fall of temperature hundreds of hectares of
arable farms, vineyards, orchards and gardens were completely
frozen. This year the situation is again critical. First of all, the
amount of precipitations in April was 21.1 mm against the normal about
of 71 mm, secondly, the temperature was comparatively high (11.8
degrees against 9.6 degrees C), and finally the fluctuations of
temperature (from -2.5 to +27.5) affected winter crops. The areas
under crop lying between the regions of Martuni and Martakert were
especially damaged. According to the head of the department for
development of agriculture of the NKR Ministry of Agriculture Haik
Lalayan, the height of the stalks of winter wheat is 15 – 30 cm, 60 cm
at best, whereas it should be longer 1.5 – 3 times. It is true
that the combine harvester can cut 30 – 60 cm long stalks, however,
this is not the only problem. The length of the ears depends on the
length of the stalk (on these farms the length of the ears is 3 – 6 cm
instead of10 – 12 cm). Consequently, the number of grains in the ear
is all in all 16 – 24 instead of 40 and more. According to the
experts of the Ministry of Agriculture, who monitored these areas for
several times, the farms the owners of which had not observed all the
rules of agricultural engineering, suffered most of all. The
situation was aggravated by rains falling since May 14. The period of
rains overlaps with the period of flowering. Lasting humidity favours
flower miscarriage. Lasting rains also delay vegetable farming. The
state of spring wheat farms is comparatively good in Martuni, Amaras,
Hadrut regions and in the areas situated lower. According to
H. Lalayan, last autumn the group of leading experts of the Ministry
of Agriculture and organizations involved in the sector checked the
winter wheat farms for pests (especially, rodents), after which3000 kg
of arsenic was distributed to land owners free of charge. Further
checking showed that the measures had proved effective. The preventive
measures against locust have begun. The necessary amount of pesticides
has been acquired, and the crops will be sprayed as soon as the rains
stop.

AA.
23-05-2005