YEREVAN, April 27. /ARKA/. The Armenian government has extended the deadline for farmers to conclude agricultural insurance contracts by one month until May 15, Anna Ohanyan, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economy, wrote in a Facebook post.

She said the decision to extend the deadline was prompted by the state of emergency declared by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The previous deadline was April 20th. Anna Ohanyan said an exception will be made for insuring apricot orchards. According to the latest data, as of March 20, about 520 agricultural insurance contracts were concluded.

The pilot agricultural insurance program was launched in Armenia in 2019 September, covering two types of crops - grapes and apricot. Later, it included also insurance of peach, apples and barley / wheat crops.

Insurance against frosts is available in two regions of the country- Ararat and Armavir, while insurance of crops against hailstorms and fire in Ararat, Armavir, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, Vayots Dzor and Tavush regions.

According to the Ministry of Economy, over the past six years, the average annual damage to agriculture caused by natural disasters stood at about 110 billion drams, however, the amount of compensation provided to farmers is very low. ($1 - 479.67 dram). --0--