Armenpress
RECORD-HIGH HARVEST OF APPRICOTS EXPECTED
YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian farmers are expected to gather this
year a record-high harvest of apricots, some 50,000 tons, a ten-time rise
from last year’s 5,000 tons. A senior official of the agricultural ministry,
Garnik Petrosian told Armenpress that bad weather conditions earlier this
year caused only minor damages to apricot tress.
He also said a similarly high yield of peach, cherry and other fruits is
expected that will be quite enough to meet retail sale and processing
industry demands. Petrosian said high harvest is largely due to
recommendations of the ministry, followed by farmers and wider use of
fertilizers and pesticides. He predicted a sharp decrease of price for one
kilo of apricots, saying it will go down to up 100 dram unlike last year
when it was sold at 700-1000 drams.
He also said some 5,000 tons of apricots are very likely to be sold
outside Armenia. According to his forecasts, some 120,000 tons of apples,
470,000 tons of potato are expected this year. Also the grape yield will be
27 percent higher and may reach 190,000 tons against 148,000 tons in 2004.
He said this is due to expansion of land under grape and good weather
conditions.