Tree fungus cuts Armenian apricot harvest to 40,000 tons

The harvest of apricots in Armenia in 2012 will remain at the level of
last year and will amount to about 40 thousand tons, the chairman of the
Agrarian-Peasant Union of Armenia Hrach Berberian said.
Berberian said that fungal tree diseases are the main threat to the
harvest of apricots. The spread of fungal diseases is facilitated by
rainy weather and winds.

The last time Armenia had a good harvest of apricots was in 2009, when
it managed to harvest about 90 thousand tons of apricots. According to the
Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, in 2010 the harvest decreased by
30-40% due to spring frost and hail.