Armenian apricot yield this year to make some 40,000 tons

YEREVAN, May 25. /ARKA/. Hrach Berberian, chairman of a non-governmental organization defending the interests of farmers, predicted today that these year apricot growing farmers will gather as much as last year- 40,000 tons. 

Speaking at a news conference the head of the Agrarian-Farming Union, said his forecast differs from official numbers. He said some 25,000 tons of apricot will be gathered in Ararat valley and 15,000 tons in other regions.

According to Berberian, the main threat to apricots this year is fungal diseases that infected trees, mostly in the Ararat valley. He explained that rainy weather and winds contribute to spread of fungal diseases. He said the most unfavorable situation with apricot orchards is in Etchmiadzin, while in the Ararat valley there are both favorable and unfavorable communities. In general, he said, the Union receives about 20-30 signals from the farmers daily. As a measure to combat fungal diseases Berberian suggested aerial spraying of trees with antifungal drugs.

Armenian farmers had a good crop of apricots in 2009 when they gathered about 90,000 tons. -0-