Walnut crop drops to 3000 tons from 4,800 tons in 2013
18.11.2014,
17:43
About 3,000 metric tons of walnuts were gathered this year in Armenia, down from 4,800 metric tons in 2013, deputy minister of agriculture Samvel Galstyan told a news conference today.
YEREVAN, November 18. / ARKA /. About 3,000 metric tons of walnuts were gathered this year in Armenia, down from 4,800 metric tons in 2013, deputy minister of agriculture Samvel Galstyan told a news conference today.
He said this year’s crop was damaged severely by late spring frosts on March 30 and April 1 that damaged severely also 80 percent of apricot trees.
According to him, only 14,925 tons of apricots were gathered this year, down from almost 89,000 metric tons in 2013.
"Agriculture is always full of surprises. And this year is no exception. Particularly affected were Shirak and Lori region of Armenia. Of 37 communities in the Shirak region, crops of grains, vegetables and potatoes were damaged in 15," said Galstyan.
Galstyan said also more than 4,000 metric tons of wheat seed was distributed to Armenian farmers, who suffered from late spring frosts, for winter crops.
Farmers were provided also with melon seeds worth 85 million drams and most severely damaged farms with a total area of 9,171 hectares were fully exempted from land tax and 50% from water tax.
He also recalled that local commercial banks had rescheduled repayment of loans extended to the affected farmers which was done on a case-by-case basis. ($1 – 415.7 drams). -0-
