Apricot harvest to be 50% less this year: expert blames ministry of agricultural for inactivity

This year the apricot harvest will be 50% less as compared with the previous year, president of the Agrarian-Rural Union NGO Hrach Berberyan said, speaking to Aysor.am, denying the allegations of some that this year a record apricot harvest is expected.

He stressed that one of the reasons is the fungal diseases caused by rains and failure to notify the farmers about them for them to confront these diseases.

Berberyan said that there are territories where just 10% of the harvest has been spoiled but there are some where up to 50%.

“As it is known the fungal diseases are appearing after rains in conditions of heat and extreme humidity. For instance, it was raining today and then it was sunny and hot and the relative humidity of the air rose,” the interlocutor said.

Berberyan stressed that the farmers should have been preliminary urged to disinfect the trees after the rain, make injections while the ministry of agriculture has not issued any warnings.

As to the degree of the harm to harvest, Berberyan said, it first of all harms the product appearance, besides, the fruit may spoil on the tree and fall.

As to whether issues may appear for export of apricot due to its failure to correspond to set standards, Berberyan said the exporter knows that he must export healthy apricot thus there will be no issues in that regard.

“But the volume of export will reduce as the exporter cannot export bad apricot,” he said.

Referring to the expected prices for apricot, Berberyan said that the people will fully enjoy the fruit, as to the export prices, it will be clear later.

Berberyan also stressed that as of now the harvest of cherry, apple and peach is also endangered.

“We urge the farmers to make injections on time. As to the grape, the situation will be more clear in August,” Berberyan said.