Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 4 2008

Armenia expects to boost grape harvest 5%-10% in 2008

YEREVAN April 4

Armenia’s grape harvest could amount to 230,000-240,000 tonnes in
2008, up 5%-10% from 2007, according to preliminary estimates, Garnik
Petrosian, head of the Armenian Agriculture Ministry’s crops
department, told Interfax.

The favorable weather this season contributed to the larger harvest,
he said. "If vineyards perished somewhere, it was solely due to the
negligence of the winegrowers," he said.

Viticulture is developing rapidly in Armenia, as evidenced by the
annual growth in the land planted with vineyards, he said. The total
area of vineyards grew by 1,500 hectares to 19,800 hectares in 2007.

This growth is the result of an increase in demand for grapes by wine
and cognac producers, he said.