Armenian agriculture shows steady growth this year, minister
YEREVAN, October 19. / ARKA /. Armenia’s agriculture, which accounts for about 20 percent of GDP, has been showing a steady rise this year in all indicators, minister of agriculture Sergo Karapetyan said today.
Summing up the results of the first eight months of the year, the minister said together with the processing industry, agriculture contributes to more than 26% of GDP.
According to him, the gross agricultural output in January - August amounted to 504.9 billion drams, a 13.5 % rise year-on-year. He specified that grain production exceeded the previous year by 8% amounting to 637,000 metric tons, while wheat production grew by 10.5% to 373,000 metric tons, up from 338,000 metric tons in 2014.
Agricultural land under crops increased by almost 68,000 hectares in the last 4 years of which 18,500 hectares in 2015 alone, reaching 351,300 hectares. The targeted use of arable land in 2015 reached 78.5% compared with 63.2% in 2010.
The minister said also that canneries have bought so far about 40,000 tons of vegetables, by 21.4% more year-on-year, and 17,500 tons of fruit, by almost 54% more than in the same time span of 2014.
According to Karapetyan, local wineries have bought a total of 202,000 tons of grapes, by 20,000 tons more than last year, although the demand this year is only 160,000 tons and the supply is 210,000 tons.
He acknowledged that the process of grapes purchase is accompanied by certain difficulties, but added there is a guarantee that the entire grape harvest will be purchased.
He said also that Armenia has exported so far 62,300 tons of fruits and vegetables, grapes and potatoes, including 31,100 tons of fruits and berries and 7000 tons of grapes, up form last year’s 4,900 tons.
For comparison, in the first 8 months of 2014 Armenia exported 37,800 tons of fruits and vegetables, grapes and potatoes. Overall, exports in the first 8 months of 2015 exceed last year’s figures by 65.1%.
"Exports still continue and we have all real prerequisites that they will double compared with last year,’ Karapetyan said adding also that the bulk of exports go to the Eurasian Economic Union.
‘More precisely, exports to Russia have grown from 39.6% in 2014 to 83.6%.,’ the minister said.-0-
Summing up the results of the first eight months of the year, the minister said together with the processing industry, agriculture contributes to more than 26% of GDP.
According to him, the gross agricultural output in January - August amounted to 504.9 billion drams, a 13.5 % rise year-on-year. He specified that grain production exceeded the previous year by 8% amounting to 637,000 metric tons, while wheat production grew by 10.5% to 373,000 metric tons, up from 338,000 metric tons in 2014.
Agricultural land under crops increased by almost 68,000 hectares in the last 4 years of which 18,500 hectares in 2015 alone, reaching 351,300 hectares. The targeted use of arable land in 2015 reached 78.5% compared with 63.2% in 2010.
The minister said also that canneries have bought so far about 40,000 tons of vegetables, by 21.4% more year-on-year, and 17,500 tons of fruit, by almost 54% more than in the same time span of 2014.
According to Karapetyan, local wineries have bought a total of 202,000 tons of grapes, by 20,000 tons more than last year, although the demand this year is only 160,000 tons and the supply is 210,000 tons.
He acknowledged that the process of grapes purchase is accompanied by certain difficulties, but added there is a guarantee that the entire grape harvest will be purchased.
He said also that Armenia has exported so far 62,300 tons of fruits and vegetables, grapes and potatoes, including 31,100 tons of fruits and berries and 7000 tons of grapes, up form last year’s 4,900 tons.
For comparison, in the first 8 months of 2014 Armenia exported 37,800 tons of fruits and vegetables, grapes and potatoes. Overall, exports in the first 8 months of 2015 exceed last year’s figures by 65.1%.
"Exports still continue and we have all real prerequisites that they will double compared with last year,’ Karapetyan said adding also that the bulk of exports go to the Eurasian Economic Union.
‘More precisely, exports to Russia have grown from 39.6% in 2014 to 83.6%.,’ the minister said.-0-