10-12% GROWTH OF STONE FRUIT HARVEST EXPECTED IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008
YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Spring sowing started earlier than usual
this year due to the unprecedentedly high temperature as compared
with the previous years, the RA deputy minister of agriculture Samvel
Galstian said at the April 30 press conference. According to him,
it is planned to sow 200-205 thousand ha with grain crops instead of
the previous 100 thousand ha.
He said that the first reproduction of elite barley seeds brought
from Ukraine last year will be used for spring sowing. Their average
crop yield made 45-50 centners in 2007.
In his words, the weather can be considered as favorable for
agriculture but if there are no rains in foothills and mountains –
along with a rising temperature, the agricultural sector will incur
losses.
The deputy minister said that no fruit trees or vines were harmed
by frost, except for a few early-ripening peach trees and vines. 260
thousand tons of fruit and 218.9 thousand tons of grapes was harvested
in 2007, and a 10-12% growth of harvest is expected this year.