Hail Causes 196 Million Dram Loss in Goris Agricultural Sector

On June 13, hail in Syunik resulted in a loss of 196 million drams to the agricultural sector in the Goris community. This was reported on June 18 during a conversation with NEWS.am by Armen Avetisyan, head of the agriculture and land use department at the Goris municipality.

“All the villages in the community have suffered damages to varying degrees, but the most significant losses have been in Goris city, Karahunj, Vorotan, and Hartashen villages,” he stated.

“Vorotan has suffered the most damage from the hail, with the village incurring a loss of 34 million drams in the agricultural sector. The community, as such, does not have agricultural land or arable land, which is why the damage amounts are smaller compared to other communities, but in Vorotan, the crop is 100 percent damaged,” added Avetisyan.

According to him, the damage in Karahunj amounts to 28 million drams; 35 hectares of grains have been affected, 22 hectares of fruits, 10 hectares of hay, 3 hectares of potatoes, and 2 hectares of beans. “In Goris, the damage has amounted to 118 million drams, while in Hartashen it is 14 million drams,” Avetisyan said, noting that these figures relate only to agricultural crops. He also pointed out that hay fields where the hay had not yet been harvested were also damaged.

Armen Avetisyan indicated that the assessment of damages in the agricultural sector has been completed; however, residents continue to approach municipal offices for damages related to roofs, vehicles, and solar systems.

Agricultural specialist Harutyun Mnatsakanyan commented that the recent hail has caused severe damage to crops, particularly in Syunik, Ararat, Kotayk, and Lori provinces. “This year, compared to previous years, we will have less fruit and vegetables. Recently, orchards of apples, apricots, and peaches have been affected by hail. I believe that this year, these fruits will be quite expensive in the local market. Already, we see peaches, nectarines, and watermelons imported from other countries in the market. These could moderate the prices of local fruits, but they still won’t be cheap,” added the agricultural expert.