The hail that hit Ararat Province yesterday damaged crops in about 20 villages, Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said today. 

"A special commission has been created in connection with the consequences of the hail that hit Ararat Province. The main damage was caused to 7-8 villages, but overall damage was recorded in about 20 villages," he said at a government question-and-answer session in parliament.

The minister said that damage to fruit trees averaged 30%, while damage to vegetable crops reached 50-60%.

"Hail and heavy rain damaged strawberries, a significant part of the crop was damaged," Papoyan said, adding that the final amount of damage is being clarified.

The minister also stated that the anti-hail stations were operating at full capacity all night, and, according to residents, specialists and representatives of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, without the operation of these stations, the damage would have been greater.

"In the Ararat region alone, about 60 thousand shots were fired from anti-hail stations in 5 hours," Papoyan noted.

Source - ARKA