ArmInfo. The new Government will necessarily address the issue of effectiveness of anti-hail systems in Armenia, as well as discuss more effective assistance to farmers affected by natural disasters. This was stated by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on May 11 at a session.
Even before the beginning of the government session, Nikol Pashinyan asked the Acting Minister of Agriculture of Armenia Ignaty Arakelyan reported on the situation that arose as a result of the hail in the Ararat region of the country that had fallen the day before. As reported by Arakelyan, to familiarize with the situation in the region the relevant group is directed. "According to operative data, the damage has not reached a large scale, but, nevertheless, some gardens have suffered," he said, adding that damage assessment will be conducted jointly with the regional structures. Further, the newly elected prime minister inquired about what steps the government had previously taken to compensate for the losses incurred. According to the established practice, as Arakelyan stated, earlier the government had the opportunity to make concessions in matters of water charges or land tax. "More, according to my information, was not provided," acting Minister stated. As Pashinyan noted, this topic should be returned in the future, since "support should not be formal, but effective, so that people really feel that the state is making serious efforts to get out of their difficult situation."
At the same time, the head of government wondered why the anti-hail systems installed in the country do not cope with the task. As pointed out by. Minister for Emergency Situations of Armenia David Tonoyan, the territories that suffered damage as a result of the last hail were outside the coverage of these systems. According to him, today systems cover only 15% of agricultural land in the country. "Within the framework of the pilot project, there are certain problems that will be solved with the introduction of a new, modern system from Russia." It is planned to cover 70% of the lands within two years, "David Tonoyan said.