YEREVAN. – Significantly positive changes are recorded in Armenia’s agricultural sector in 2012, Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetyan stated during a press conference on Wednesday.

“Croplands increased in 2012, [and they] comprised 303,600 hectares, which exceeds last year’s level by 16,900 hectares. In line with the National Statistical Service data, the agricultural product value made up AMD 787.9 billion, in January-November 2012, which surpasses by 8.3 percent the indicator for the same period last year,” the minister noted.    

He added that the gross product of virtually all crops in Armenia likewise grew in the passing year.  

As compared with the same period in the year past, the number of large cattle increased by 27,900, and that of small cattle grew by 57,700 in the beginning of 2012. Also, the number of birds increased by 561,000 in the given period.

As per the agriculture minister, this growth became an important prerequisite for the increase in the volume of livestock products in 2012. The volume of primary livestock products this year surpassed the previous year’s level by 3.3-3.8 percent.   

Photo by Edvard Arzumanyan/NEWS.am