SOME 30% OF ARMENIAN APRICOT CROP DAMAGED BY RAINS AND HAILS
/ARKA/
May 19, 2010
YEREVAN
Armenian agricultural minister Gerasim Alaverdian told May 18 that
preliminary estimates show that some 25-30% of apricot crop was
damaged by heavy rains and hails.
He said the overall volume of the damage is being still gauged,
but added that the bulk of damaged apricot orchards are in Ararat
and Armavir provinces.
He said pollination of the trees was hindered by heavy and protracted
rains. The minister said also the government is considering ways to
help farmers, but added that they will not get financial assistance
as no funds are earmarked for it in the budget. Last year Armenian
farmers gathered some 83,000 tons of apricot.