24/12/2010 13:19
Gerasim Alaverdyan: 2010 agricultural year unfavorable
Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan summing up 2010 agricultural year at a press conference described it as unfavorable due to early spring frosts, rains followed by drought which resulted in 14.5 percent fall in agricultural production.
Agricultural fall was mostly observed in crop production, according to the Minister.
“In 2010 area sown to grains and cereals decreased by over 16,000 hectares compared with the previous year, due to climatic conditions, subsidy reduction,” G. Alaverdyan said.
“2010 potato crop, 490,000 tons, also decreased compared with year 2009 (590,000 tons). Potato was sown over 28,000 hectares in 2010 while potato sown area was 31.5 thousand hectares in 2009,” the Minister concluded.