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YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS:Sudden heavy snowfalls in mountainous regions and incessant heavy rains in valleys have dealt a severe blow to Armenian agriculture. Armenian weather service said the amount of precipitation in March and April was almost twice as high as usual for these months. Snowfall have been reported to destroy most crops of grain and other cereals in Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn and also hitting other plants. In Ararat valley rains have damaged some 60-70 percent of expected apricot harvest. Last week government set up a special commission to assess the volumes of damages. Several officials of the agriculture ministry claimed the amount of damages caused by rains was nearly tantamount to the aftereffects of a sweeping drought in 2000 summer.