HARVEST OF CEREALS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
27 July 05

Although the harvest of cereals is still going on, the existing data
already give an idea about the results. Unfortunately, this year the
total yield of grain is lower than in the previous year. In 2004 the
average crop yield per hectare was 15900 kg (by July 18) whereas this
year the average yield in the republic is 13700 kg per ha (86.1 per
cent). But this decrease is not the same for the entire territory of the
republic. For example, the crop yield has decreased in the regions of
Askeran, Martakert, Martuni and Shushi since 2004, whereas in Kashatagh
and Hadrut it surpassed the indices of the previous year. In Kashatagh
it almost doubled, totaling 12300 kg per hectare against 6400 kg per
hectare in 2004. In 2005 the area under crop increased from 56336.5 to
60670.5 ha. This tendency cannot be applied to all the regions. In fact,
in Martakert the area under crop almost doubled, whereas in Kashatagh it
was reduced from 16246 to 9150 ha. The increase of the area under crop
necessitates the effective organization of harvesting. By July 18
55282.6 tonnes of grain was collected from 40294.6 ha against the
53982.8 tonnes from 33873 ha in the previous year (the figures were
provided by the NKR Ministry of Agriculture). These numbers give some
idea about the harvest of grain this year. For more details we talked to
the chief of the department for development and planning of branches of
agriculture of the NKR Ministry of Agriculture Hayk Lalayan. AA: `Mr.
Lalayan, the yield of arable crops in 2005 has decreased since the
previous year. What is the reason for this?’ H.L.: `The crop yield is,
in fact, rather law this year. The main cause is the weather. Dry
weather in the season when the crops need water caused a lot of damage;
this is the main cause of low yield. We should not forget that the
majority of arable lands are not irrigated, and favourable weather is a
very important condition. Nevertheless, the collected amount will be
enough for the needs of the NKR population and, besides, a considerable
amount of wheat will be exported.’ AA: `Today both the producers and
buyers are especially interested in the problems related to the price
for grain.’ H.L.: `First of all it should be noted that the price is
determined by the market, by the well known correlation of supply and
demand. But we should also take into account another circumstance. Here
the prices usually correspond to the prices of the Armenian market. As
for grain, this year a considerable amount of wheat was bought at a low
price from Russia (let us leave aside the quality now). It follows that
Armenia satisfied its demand on the Russian market. This causes the
price for bread to drop. The same happened last year. Let’s look back.
In 2003 the price for 1 kg of wheat increased from 80 to 170 AM drams
then dropped to 120 AM drams. In 2004 it was around 70. Moreover, if the
price is 70 drams in Armenia, the middlemen in NKR may try to buy grain
at even a lower price.’ AA: `Mr. Lalayan, successful harvest greatly
depends on the agricultural machinery. Is there lack of machinery and
may this result in damages to the harvest?’ H.L.: `About 280 combines
work in the fields, which, I think, is enough. Especially that the
harvest of grain does not take place simultaneously in different regions
of NKR because of climate. Part of the combines was brought from Armenia
but this does not make any difference. As to the fee for the machinery,
it is not controlled specially. The owner of the combine decides the
price for himself taking into account the market.’ AA: `You mentioned
that the crop yield suffered from the lack of rain. What about the
damage of hails?’ H.L.: `Certainly, considerable damage was inflicted by
hails. But hails do not damage all the area at once but several hectares
in one place or another. This year, thanks God, it did not happen that
hails damage all the fields of one region. This year hails damaged about
2545 ha of grain.’ AA: `Every year arable crops are destroyed by fires.
What action is taken to prevent this?’ H.L.: `There are fire brigades in
each regions, which are provided with the necessary means by the
government. So far they have done their job well and prevented great
damage. However, fires also damage the crops partly. The exact
evaluation of the damages of fire will be made after the harvest.’ AA:
`But we should not forget that behind these dry figures there are
families whose one or two hectares were also in those `partly damaged’.
Are there any subsidies for them?’ H.L.: `We do not have a complete
picture of the damage yet. But after the harvest the data will be summed
up and extended to the government of NKR which will decide the order and
size of support.’

NORAYR HOVSEPIAN.
27-07-2005