ArmInfo. "Due to the coronavirus, a number of international wine exhibitions have been canceled, for participation in which large funds are allocated. However, under these conditions, we used these funds to complete the 1st stage of the vineyards-mapping program in Armenia>. Zaruhi Muradyan, Chairperson of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, shared this opinion in an interview with ArmInfo correspondent.
"These funds ensured the implementation of the vineyards-mapping program in Armenia, which has been discussed for more than 3 years," she said. In particular, according to the head of the Foundation, the work has been completed in Armavir, Aragatsotn and Ararat regions. Next year the program will continue in Tavush and Vayots Dzor.
However, she noted that the situation with vineyards in the country could be much better. In this context, Muradyan said that in 2019 the Fund was actively negotiating with foreign investors for the creation of new vineyards in Armenia. However, the closed borders have suspended the implementation of the plans. "Soils and climatic conditions have already been studied, we have provided them with maps, active negotiations were under way, but the coronavirus has made its own adjustments," she said.
In this regard, Muradyan said that communication with investors was maintained throughout 2020, expressing the hope that some of these programs will be implemented in 2021.
To note, according to the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, in 2019 the sown area of grapes increased by 2.5% - up to 16.5 thousand hectares. The gross harvest of grapes in Armenia for the reporting period amounted to 217.5 thousand tons, which is 21% higher than a year ago. Unfortunately, statistics on sown areas and gross crop yields in Armenia are published with a great delay, in particular, the results of 2019 appeared on the website of the Statistical Committee on August 24, 2020.
To recall, in the first half of 2020, Armenia reduced the volume of grapes exports by 26.6% to 1.3 thousand tons, with a decrease in customs value by 37.5% - to $ 426.1 thousand. The lion's share of Armenian grape exports (85.3%) falls on the Russian market. According to the RA Customs Service, in the first half of 2020, Armenia delivered 1.1 thousand tons of grapes to the Russian market at a customs value of $ 314.5 thousand. In annual terms, these indicators increased by 4.7% and 7.3%, respectively.
The rest of the export of grapes (199.3 tons) fell on the Georgian market, with an annual decline in the volume of supplies by 70%. At the same time, the customs value also decreased by about 70%, amounting to $ 111.6 thousand
