VivaCell-MTS invested AMD 45 million in construction and installation of hail suppression units in 5 villages of Armavir region

Yerevan/Mediamax/. During 2012 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.

“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.

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.