Armenia’s grape production drops by 20 percent in 2017
24.10.2017,
15:27
Armenia’s grape production in 2017 has seen a 20% drop from the previous year, according to Areg Harutyunyan, the head of the National Wine Center.
YEREVAN, October 24. /ARKA/. Armenia’s grape production in 2017 has seen a 20% drop from the previous year, according to Areg Harutyunyan, the head of the National Wine Center. Speaking to a news conference today, he claimed that the output declined to some 90,000 metric tons, primarily because the farmers were unable to protect their vineyards in a timely and proper manner from winter frosts due to lack of finance.
He said the official figures usually overstate the grape production putting it between 200,000 and 300,000 tons. However, according to the estimates of the National Wine Center, the production never exceeds 100,000 tons. He said the drop is to be blamed partly on the decreasing number of wine producers.
"Up to 32,000 families were engaged in the production of grapes, however, because of the low grape output in 2016, the problems concerning the sale of grapes, their number slashed by 4,000," Harutyunyan said. But according to the National Statistical Service, wine production in the first 8 months of 2017 surged by 35.2% year-on-year to 5.1 million liters.
Asked to explain why the production of wine increased as the output dropped Harutyunyan noted that this may have several explanations. "First, producers could have used wine alcohol stored in previous years, and secondly, production of fruit wines could have increased," the expert said. -0-
He said the official figures usually overstate the grape production putting it between 200,000 and 300,000 tons. However, according to the estimates of the National Wine Center, the production never exceeds 100,000 tons. He said the drop is to be blamed partly on the decreasing number of wine producers.
"Up to 32,000 families were engaged in the production of grapes, however, because of the low grape output in 2016, the problems concerning the sale of grapes, their number slashed by 4,000," Harutyunyan said. But according to the National Statistical Service, wine production in the first 8 months of 2017 surged by 35.2% year-on-year to 5.1 million liters.
Asked to explain why the production of wine increased as the output dropped Harutyunyan noted that this may have several explanations. "First, producers could have used wine alcohol stored in previous years, and secondly, production of fruit wines could have increased," the expert said. -0-
