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A NEW EPIDEMIC IS AT ARMENIA'S DOORSTEPS, SAYS ATG
February 3, 2015
ATG workers inspect grape vines in Armenia.
YEREVAN--A major agricultural catastrophe is lurking in Armenia.
Armenia's centuries old grape and related industries are in danger of
losing their productivity, potentially impacting the livelihood of
thousands of families and causing a major loss of export potentials
and income to the entire country - reports Fresno, California-based
Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG).
Armenia's Ararat Valley -- where the vineyards date back to
the biblical times -- is infected by the phylloxera nematode,
a microscopic louse that attacks the roots of grape vines. The
infestation is severely diminishing the grape-root system's ability
to absorb needed water and nutrients to sustain the vine.
"Phylloxera is the nemesis of the grape industry," said Varoujan Der
Simonian, Executive Director of ATG. "Once a vineyard is infected by
the louse it can destroy it fairly rapidly, and then spread naturally
to others nearby."
In Ararat Valley, the destructive nematode appeared few years ago, in a
small family vineyard. The locals considered it as a single incident,
ripped up and burned the vines and thought that would control the
disease. However, similar to the Europeans' in the early 1900's,
their attempt to eradicate the louse failed!
In 2013 phylloxera appeared in another vineyard in Ararat Valley. The
field was quarantined to contain the louse, but the attempt had
failed as well. As of December 2014 phylloxera has already spread
to a 40 mile radius, and infected at least eight different vineyards
located in Armavir region. Based on a data obtained from the Ministry
of Agriculture in Armenia, It has been identified in vineyards in
Aghavnatoun, Arevadem, Aygek, Artamed, Kayi, Norapat, Noraket and
Mayisian villages.
If the spread of the disease continues at its current pace, within the
next 5 to 10 years farmers in Armenia might lose all their vines,
be forced to rip them out and replant their vineyards with new
phylloxera-resistant vines.
Importing and propagating plants is prohibited in Armenia without
the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture -- very much like in
other developing countries.
On January 30, Sergio Karapetyan, Ministry of Agriculture announced
that "Armenia must develop phylloxera-resistant plants."
"We are exploring the options with the [Ministry of Agriculture],
to prepare the foundation for a phylloxera-resistant grape nursery at
a secluded location" said Der Simonian. "It is not possible to clear
the fields form the louse. Farmers cannot fight this epidemic alone;
we have to supply them with phylloxera-resistant plants to help them
rejuvenate their vineyards."
The livelihoods of thousands of already stressed farm-families in
Armenia are at high risk of being ruined. These farmers are the
ones who work hard year-long to supply grapes to the centuries-old
Armenian wine and cognac [brandy] industries. As a result, these
income-generating producers and exporters are also on the verge of
not only environmental, but also economic collapse.
During the 19th century Phylloxera infestation become and epidemic
throughout France and most of Europe, destroying some two-thirds
of the continent's vineyards, and by 1900's some 70% of the vines
in France were dead -the livelihoods of thousands of families were
ruined. The danger is no less in US! In the 1990's Phylloxera attacked
California's main wine region causing about two thirds of the vineyards
in Napa Valley to be replanted. Phylloxera has also devastated many
vineyards in Oregon, whose owners had hoped that the louse wouldn't
infest the virgin soils.
ATG is soliciting contributions for this purpose. Tax-deductible
contributions could be mailed to ATG P.O. Box 5969, Fresno CA 93755.
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/60916
February 3, 2015
ATG workers inspect grape vines in Armenia.
YEREVAN--A major agricultural catastrophe is lurking in Armenia.
Armenia's centuries old grape and related industries are in danger of
losing their productivity, potentially impacting the livelihood of
thousands of families and causing a major loss of export potentials
and income to the entire country - reports Fresno, California-based
Armenian Technology Group, Inc. (ATG).
Armenia's Ararat Valley -- where the vineyards date back to
the biblical times -- is infected by the phylloxera nematode,
a microscopic louse that attacks the roots of grape vines. The
infestation is severely diminishing the grape-root system's ability
to absorb needed water and nutrients to sustain the vine.
"Phylloxera is the nemesis of the grape industry," said Varoujan Der
Simonian, Executive Director of ATG. "Once a vineyard is infected by
the louse it can destroy it fairly rapidly, and then spread naturally
to others nearby."
In Ararat Valley, the destructive nematode appeared few years ago, in a
small family vineyard. The locals considered it as a single incident,
ripped up and burned the vines and thought that would control the
disease. However, similar to the Europeans' in the early 1900's,
their attempt to eradicate the louse failed!
In 2013 phylloxera appeared in another vineyard in Ararat Valley. The
field was quarantined to contain the louse, but the attempt had
failed as well. As of December 2014 phylloxera has already spread
to a 40 mile radius, and infected at least eight different vineyards
located in Armavir region. Based on a data obtained from the Ministry
of Agriculture in Armenia, It has been identified in vineyards in
Aghavnatoun, Arevadem, Aygek, Artamed, Kayi, Norapat, Noraket and
Mayisian villages.
If the spread of the disease continues at its current pace, within the
next 5 to 10 years farmers in Armenia might lose all their vines,
be forced to rip them out and replant their vineyards with new
phylloxera-resistant vines.
Importing and propagating plants is prohibited in Armenia without
the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture -- very much like in
other developing countries.
On January 30, Sergio Karapetyan, Ministry of Agriculture announced
that "Armenia must develop phylloxera-resistant plants."
"We are exploring the options with the [Ministry of Agriculture],
to prepare the foundation for a phylloxera-resistant grape nursery at
a secluded location" said Der Simonian. "It is not possible to clear
the fields form the louse. Farmers cannot fight this epidemic alone;
we have to supply them with phylloxera-resistant plants to help them
rejuvenate their vineyards."
The livelihoods of thousands of already stressed farm-families in
Armenia are at high risk of being ruined. These farmers are the
ones who work hard year-long to supply grapes to the centuries-old
Armenian wine and cognac [brandy] industries. As a result, these
income-generating producers and exporters are also on the verge of
not only environmental, but also economic collapse.
During the 19th century Phylloxera infestation become and epidemic
throughout France and most of Europe, destroying some two-thirds
of the continent's vineyards, and by 1900's some 70% of the vines
in France were dead -the livelihoods of thousands of families were
ruined. The danger is no less in US! In the 1990's Phylloxera attacked
California's main wine region causing about two thirds of the vineyards
in Napa Valley to be replanted. Phylloxera has also devastated many
vineyards in Oregon, whose owners had hoped that the louse wouldn't
infest the virgin soils.
ATG is soliciting contributions for this purpose. Tax-deductible
contributions could be mailed to ATG P.O. Box 5969, Fresno CA 93755.
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/60916