By GOHAR ABRAHAMYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
ArmeniaNow reporter
At a press conference on Monday Hrach
Berberyan, the president of the Agrarian-Rural Union of Armenia NGO, spoke
about the agricultural year, raising concerns over the poor wheat crop and
urging the prime minister to write off the farmers’ related debts.
In September 2011, Armenia imported 1,100 tons of high-quality grain seeds from Russia, which was supposed to have high yield. Whereas, according to Berberyan, in the Ararat, Armavir, Shirak and Aragatsotn provinces where the high-quality grain has been grown, the height of the wheat stem is only 17-22 centimeters instead of normal 50-60 centimeters.
“Our research has shown that we have a loss of about 4,500 hectares of wheat, the wheat stems do not grow properly, and not a single combine harvester will be able to reap the wheat,” Berberyan said, adding that the present situation is the result of not testing the imported wheat species.
“Six out of eight imported [wheat] varieties are unknown to Armenian farmers. During the first two years they grow properly, however, after the second year they start being degenerated,” Berberyan said. Addressing his words to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, he added: “Please, establish strong control and punish those who are in charge of the import and testing of the [wheat] varieties.”
Berberyan believes that it is necessary to forgive the debts of all the farmers who have got the high-quality grain seeds and are to pay 150-180 drams (about 36-43 cents) per kilo.
As for the apricot yield, according to Berberyan, Armenia is expected to harvest 45,000-50,000 tons of the fruit this year, 40 percent more than last year (27,000 tons).
Besides, referring to the irrigation water issue and the additional volume of water to be drained from Lake Sevan, Berberyan said that it should not be grounded by drought, because drought is quite relative in Armenia, it is usually registered from mid-July to mid-August in the lands which are not irrigated.
“The snowy winter this year, as well as quite rainy June and first days of July raise doubts over the expediency of draining additional water from Lake Sevan, because most of the reservoirs are full of water these days,” Berberyan said.
In September 2011, Armenia imported 1,100 tons of high-quality grain seeds from Russia, which was supposed to have high yield. Whereas, according to Berberyan, in the Ararat, Armavir, Shirak and Aragatsotn provinces where the high-quality grain has been grown, the height of the wheat stem is only 17-22 centimeters instead of normal 50-60 centimeters.
“Our research has shown that we have a loss of about 4,500 hectares of wheat, the wheat stems do not grow properly, and not a single combine harvester will be able to reap the wheat,” Berberyan said, adding that the present situation is the result of not testing the imported wheat species.
“Six out of eight imported [wheat] varieties are unknown to Armenian farmers. During the first two years they grow properly, however, after the second year they start being degenerated,” Berberyan said. Addressing his words to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, he added: “Please, establish strong control and punish those who are in charge of the import and testing of the [wheat] varieties.”
Berberyan believes that it is necessary to forgive the debts of all the farmers who have got the high-quality grain seeds and are to pay 150-180 drams (about 36-43 cents) per kilo.
As for the apricot yield, according to Berberyan, Armenia is expected to harvest 45,000-50,000 tons of the fruit this year, 40 percent more than last year (27,000 tons).
Besides, referring to the irrigation water issue and the additional volume of water to be drained from Lake Sevan, Berberyan said that it should not be grounded by drought, because drought is quite relative in Armenia, it is usually registered from mid-July to mid-August in the lands which are not irrigated.
“The snowy winter this year, as well as quite rainy June and first days of July raise doubts over the expediency of draining additional water from Lake Sevan, because most of the reservoirs are full of water these days,” Berberyan said.
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