Armenia’s Agriculture Minister, Sergo Karapetyan, on Sunday visited Lori Region to assess the damage of the recent hailstorm that hit the region two days earlier. 

The minister visited Agarak, Lejan, and Amrakits villages nearby Stepanavan city, which were the hardest-hit communities, the Armenian News-NEWS.am Lori reporter informs.  

Karapetyan assessed the damage in these villages as 30-50 percent, but “a little more” in some other areas.

“The potato fields can recover. The picture will become clearer in four to five days. A 60 percent crop can be obtained,” he noted.   

Reflecting on the absence of anti-hail stations in the region, the minister specifically said:

“There is a state program for the next five years, and this program envisions continuing setting up of anti-hail stations. Last year, we installed six anti-hail stations in this region, [and] the installing will continue.”   

 

 

Photos and video by Edvard Arzumanyan