Armenia to create also special vineyard to conserve grape varieties and breed new ones
YEREVAN, August 12. /ARKA/. After having created a special apricot orchard in 2013 to preserve the existing species and breed new ones Armenia will create also a similar vineyard, deputy minister of agriculture Armen Harutyunyan said today.
He recalled that the apricot orchard was created together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
"It was a very successful experience and that was why a decision was made to create also a similar vineyard to conserve the existing species of grapes, which is important for the development of viticulture in Armenia", said Harutyunyan, adding that the preparatory work already began.
Studies show that Armenian winegrowers used to cultivate more than 600 varieties of grapes, while today there are no more than 60 varieties.
According to the ministry of agriculture, in 2015 Armenian wineries and food processing companies bought a total of 216,800 metric tons of grapes, by 32,700 tons or 17.8% more than in the same period in 2014. -0-
He recalled that the apricot orchard was created together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
"It was a very successful experience and that was why a decision was made to create also a similar vineyard to conserve the existing species of grapes, which is important for the development of viticulture in Armenia", said Harutyunyan, adding that the preparatory work already began.
Studies show that Armenian winegrowers used to cultivate more than 600 varieties of grapes, while today there are no more than 60 varieties.
According to the ministry of agriculture, in 2015 Armenian wineries and food processing companies bought a total of 216,800 metric tons of grapes, by 32,700 tons or 17.8% more than in the same period in 2014. -0-