Friday, April 19 2019 14:30

ArmInfo. The Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia, Feliks Tsolakyan, calls for concentrating not on anti-hail stations, but on networks and insurance of agricultural  risks in the fight against hail. He stated this on April 19 at a press conference.

According to the Emergency Situations Minister, today there are more  than 55 anti-hail stations and about 100 anti-hail missiles purchased  in Russia last year in the arsenal. Nevertheless, given the low  effectiveness of the fight against hail, the Emergencies Ministry  tried to solve the problem more radically - they invited the best  specialists of the sectorand consulted with them. As a result, they  came to the conclusion that the efficiency of the stations is low.

In addition, as pointed out by Tsolakyan, there are also problems  with rockets (shells). After the Armenian side purchased the first  batch, the supplier could not deliver the second one. There was a  proposal to purchase in the other side, which was blocked by the head  of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.  According to Tsolakyan,  deliveries will not resolve the issue.

And the fact is that, as the minister pointed out, in Armenia hail  clouds are formed mainly in Armavir, Ararat, Shirak, Aragatsotn.  These areas account for the damage, estimated at 10 billion drams  last year. "In Armavir, where last year's damage reached about 5  billion drams, there is a nuclear power plant, that is, it's  impossible to shoot. There's also an aircraft's air route, you can't  shoot again. I'm told that there is an agreement with the Ministry of  Defense and the State Administration of Civil Aviation, and we will  be warned overflights, but such arguments seem inconclusive to me,  "he explained.

Today Tsolakyan recommends the authorities and representatives of the  sector to think about the establishment of anti-hail nets and the  introduction of agricultural insurance. The head of the Ministry of  Emergency Situations is aware that this is probably more expensive,  and how everything is new, is perceived by the population with a  certain apprehension. But, referring to world experience, Tsolakyan  considers this the most effective mechanism in the fight against hail  and its consequences.