ARMENIA’S GROSS AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT GROWS BY 7.2% IN FIRST HALF OF 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-June 2006, the gross
agricultural output made 118.9 bln drams (about 267.8 mln USD) in
Armenia, exceeding by 7.2% the respective index of 2005. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, the gross plant cultication
output amounted to 36 bln 818.2 mln drams, exceeding by 12.6% the
index of the same period of 2005. The gross cattle-breeding output
made 82 bln 132.4 mln drams, exceeding by 5% the respective index of
2005. As of June 1, 2006, the gross grain and groat crops grew by 1.4
thousand tons or about 5.7fold compared with the same index of last
year, truck crops – by 9.7 thousand tons or 43.3%, potato crops – by
6.3 thousand tons or 22.7%, fruit and vegetables – by 6.3 thousand
tons or 17.3%, fodder crops – by 28.1 thousand tons or 55.9%. In
January-June 2006, production of main cattle-breeding foodstuffs,
except eggs, increased on the same period of 2005.

The meat and poultry production exceeded by 4.7 thousand tons or
12.3% the index of the same period of 2005, milk production – by 26.7
thousand tons or 8.8%. Fish catching index made 569.8 mln drams in
January-June 2006, exceeding the respective index of 2005 by 11.9%.