ACCORDING TO FORECASTS, LAST YEAR’S APRICOT CROP TO BE TWO OR THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS CROP OF THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Damage done by torrential rains and
floods in Armenia amounted to more than two billion drams this year,
including damage of about 420 million drams (about 1.2 mln USD)
to the agricultural sector.

The Head of the Plant Cultivation, Forest and Plant Preservation
Department of the RA Ministry of Agriculture Garnik Petrosian stated
this at the June 13 press conference. He said that on the instructions
of the prime minister, working groups have been set up to examine
the situation on the spot. "The results of the examination will
be summarized soon and submitted to the government with the aim of
allocation of funds in order to mitigate the consequences," he noted.

According to G. Petrosian, it is expected that due to heavy rains,
last year’s apricot crop will be two or three times as much than
the crop to be gathered this year: last year, 50 thousand tons of
apricots was purchased, whereas this year this index is expected to
make no more than 15 thousand tons. In the words of G. Petrosian,
the unfavorable weather has not damaged other stone fruits – good
crops of grapes, peaches and cherries are expected.