No potato deficit to hit Armenia in 2013: Agriculture ministry
22.03.2013,
16:24
Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture doesn’t anticipate any potato deficit this year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Garnik Petrosyan told reporters on Friday.

YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture doesn’t anticipate any potato deficit this year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Garnik Petrosyan told reporters on Friday.
Potato output was really damaged in villages of Masis and Echmiadzin towns (Ararat and Armavir regions) by the potato tuber moth last year. Therefore, farmers are reluctant on seeding potatoes this year in these regions.
“We held a number of meetings with farmers and appealed to them not to stop seeding potatoes, as it is very important for the agricultural sector of our republic. We can now state that potato output in these regions will be enough to satisfy the needs of the residents of all the other regions,” Petrosyan said.
He also added that in case farmers cut potato seeding, Armenia may face a serious deficit of “the second bread” in summer.
Petrosyan implied this year potato output will remain the same from a year earlier.
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, potato output in 2012 stood at 645,700 tons versus 557,800 tons in 2011. -0-