Berberyan: Drought and irrigation problems may cut potato and grain harvests in Armenia
The drought in Armenia over the last two months has caused serious damage to agriculture : the prolonged period of dry weather may create grave problems, Head of the Agrarian-Rural Union Hrach Berberyan said at a press conference today.
He said potato prices are likely to increase by 10% in Armenia in the autumn due to a poor harvest in Shirak province of Armenia. Berberyan added that the problems related to drought are aggravated by the condition of the irrigation system as rural residents are facing irrigation issues because of the work of the hydropower plant.
H. Berberyan urged the Armenian agriculture minister to accelerate reforms in the irrigation system’s optimization.
According to the expert, a shortage of irrigation water is the reason why Armavir region residents complain about problems with peach crops.
The drought may also affect negatively the grain harvest, he said.