MORE ARMENIAN FARMERS REFUSE TO CULTIVATE GRAIN CROPS BECAUSE OF LACK OF HIGH QUALITY SEEDS

ARKA
May 13, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 13, /ARKA/. Armenian agricultural minister Gerasim
Alaverdian complained today that more farmers refuse to cultivate grain
crops because of lack of high quality seeds and appropriate technology.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a UN FAO regional
conference in Yerevan he said the total land under grain crops slashed
from 124,000 hectares in 2004 to 88,000 hectares in 2008. The minister
said they failed to bring 5,000 metric tons of high quality seeds,
but added the ministry has received a $600,000 assistance from FAO
to bring elite sorts of grain crops.

According to him the total domestic demand for grain crops is about
700,000 tons, while local production meet only 40-35% of it. The
remaining part is brought from Russia and Ukraine. The minister also
complained of natural calamities that cause multimillion damages
to agriculture.

Thus, last year they caused 12 billion Drams worth damages. He said
the government has earmarked 550 million Drams for installment of
anti-hail stations and another 250 million Drams were provided by
the Japanese government, he said.

According to the government program, some 79 anti-hail stations are
to be installed this and next years to protect about 30,000 hectares
of land under crop. Armenian experts estimate the damages caused by
natural calamites from $13 to $20 million a year , half of which is
caused by hails.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress