LOSS OF CROPS FROM THE HAIL CAN NOW BE PREVENTED IN FIVE VILLAGES OF ARMAVIR MARZ
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan
05-06-2012
Since 2008 VivaCell-MTS has given up AMD 165 million for the
installation of 23 "Zenith" hail suppression systems in Armavir region
June 5, 2012, Yerevan, Armenia Weather conditions are not always
favorable to Armenian farmers. The country's agriculture sustains
huge material damage in terms of farmers' crops and property each
year. And the hail is responsible for about 50% of the total damage
caused by different natural disasters. Very often hail precipitations
lead to significant or even total losses of crops. In addition, the
climate changes over the last decades have led to intensification of
the hail precipitations.
One feasible way to protect the cultivated fields from hail is the
installation of anti-hail stations. Within this year alone VivaCell-MTS
has made AMD 45 million of social investment in construction and
installation of 8 units of "Zenith" hail suppression systems in
Karakert, Lernagog, Shenik, Nor Artamet, and Argina villages of
Armavir region. The farmers in these villages know very well the
material damage hails can cause. During the last year, as per some
estimations, they lost almost 60% of all the agricultural products.
Automatically functioning Zenith hail suppression systems are
controlled remotely by sending SMS messages from mobile phone, via
cellular communication channels of VivaCell-MTS' network, using a
specially-defined tariff. These systems are functioning autonomously
feeding from renewable energy source -solar power using solar PV
panels.
The Zenith hail suppression system is able to identify potential
hail-bearing clouds and put the system into operation automatically.
The basic technology of operation of such a system is well-known
and well-proven. It is based on influence of high-power, vertically
propagating shock waves on the atmosphere. Shock waves have impact on
the structure of cumulonimbus clouds, avoiding thus preconditions for
crystallization of water particles in the clouds and hail formation.
"Frequent heavy hails previous springs have caused serious damage to
farms in a number of villages. They cause serious damages to Armenian
agricultural sector, a priority and at the same time, one of the
most vulnerable and risky spheres of the economy, where the crops,
the output of time-consuming hard work and considerable investment,
can disappear easily as a result of natural disaster in just several
minutes. This is an enormous loss for both the national economy and
the private sector of farmers. Hail suppression systems will help
increase the profitability of agriculture, and create better quality
of life for the population of the region in the long run," commented
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.
For this purpose, from 2008 to 20101VivaCell-MTS has allotted AMD
120 million and AMD 45 million in 2012, thus totaling to AMD 165
million for 4 years. By making this considerable investment in rural
communities, VivaCell-MTS wants to reduce the loss of harvest to the
minimum and to help farmers draw themselves up to their full height
by generating income necessary for future sustainable development.
Thanks to the installation of anti-hail stations in 5 villages, working
with almost 90% efficiency, additional 800 hectares of agricultural
land in Armavir marz will be protected since now. The "Zenith" hail
suppression systems are developed and produced by "Barva" Innovation
Center that uses local intellectual and production resources.
From: A. Papazian
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan
05-06-2012
Since 2008 VivaCell-MTS has given up AMD 165 million for the
installation of 23 "Zenith" hail suppression systems in Armavir region
June 5, 2012, Yerevan, Armenia Weather conditions are not always
favorable to Armenian farmers. The country's agriculture sustains
huge material damage in terms of farmers' crops and property each
year. And the hail is responsible for about 50% of the total damage
caused by different natural disasters. Very often hail precipitations
lead to significant or even total losses of crops. In addition, the
climate changes over the last decades have led to intensification of
the hail precipitations.
One feasible way to protect the cultivated fields from hail is the
installation of anti-hail stations. Within this year alone VivaCell-MTS
has made AMD 45 million of social investment in construction and
installation of 8 units of "Zenith" hail suppression systems in
Karakert, Lernagog, Shenik, Nor Artamet, and Argina villages of
Armavir region. The farmers in these villages know very well the
material damage hails can cause. During the last year, as per some
estimations, they lost almost 60% of all the agricultural products.
Automatically functioning Zenith hail suppression systems are
controlled remotely by sending SMS messages from mobile phone, via
cellular communication channels of VivaCell-MTS' network, using a
specially-defined tariff. These systems are functioning autonomously
feeding from renewable energy source -solar power using solar PV
panels.
The Zenith hail suppression system is able to identify potential
hail-bearing clouds and put the system into operation automatically.
The basic technology of operation of such a system is well-known
and well-proven. It is based on influence of high-power, vertically
propagating shock waves on the atmosphere. Shock waves have impact on
the structure of cumulonimbus clouds, avoiding thus preconditions for
crystallization of water particles in the clouds and hail formation.
"Frequent heavy hails previous springs have caused serious damage to
farms in a number of villages. They cause serious damages to Armenian
agricultural sector, a priority and at the same time, one of the
most vulnerable and risky spheres of the economy, where the crops,
the output of time-consuming hard work and considerable investment,
can disappear easily as a result of natural disaster in just several
minutes. This is an enormous loss for both the national economy and
the private sector of farmers. Hail suppression systems will help
increase the profitability of agriculture, and create better quality
of life for the population of the region in the long run," commented
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.
For this purpose, from 2008 to 20101VivaCell-MTS has allotted AMD
120 million and AMD 45 million in 2012, thus totaling to AMD 165
million for 4 years. By making this considerable investment in rural
communities, VivaCell-MTS wants to reduce the loss of harvest to the
minimum and to help farmers draw themselves up to their full height
by generating income necessary for future sustainable development.
Thanks to the installation of anti-hail stations in 5 villages, working
with almost 90% efficiency, additional 800 hectares of agricultural
land in Armavir marz will be protected since now. The "Zenith" hail
suppression systems are developed and produced by "Barva" Innovation
Center that uses local intellectual and production resources.
From: A. Papazian