DROUGHT EFFECTS ONLY MOUNTAIN AND SUB-MOUNTAIN AREAS

Armenpress
Jul 3 2006

YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS: Officials from the government-affiliated
water committee and agricultural ministry have downplayed the purported
aftereffects of a long string of dry days that have affected largely
mountain and sub-mountain areas, where irrigation is not available.

Speaking to a round table discussion on the consequences of the drought
that was interrupted just few days ago, they said the overall volume
of damages suffered by farmers is being examined now by experts.

Mamikon Gasparian from the agriculture ministry said the irrigated
agriculture is immune against drought. The drought has sustained
damages only to those mountain and sub-mountain areas which have no
irrigation. Gasparian said farmers in lower areas who have access
to irrigation have overcome the panic and are now watering their
lands regularly.

Adibek Ghazarian from the water committee said lands received 15-20
percent of extra water. He said water reservoirs have enough water
for organization of due irrigation and pumping extra water out from
the lake Sevan was not discussed yet because the available resources
are enough to meet the demand.