The regions of Shirak, Aragatzotn, Armavir and Ararat were particularly hit hard by the heavy rains and hailstorms that Armenia experienced in the spring. Even though the government allocates monies from the budget for the installation of new anti-hail stations, rural residents are still not insured for hail damage to their crops and property. And these stations aren’t cheap. Each cost about 9 million AMD. There are two companies that are licensed to install such stations, one attached to Ministry of Emergency Situations and Barva, Ltd, a private concern. The competition is fierce between the two for government contracts but local residents do not benefit. There are fifteen such anti-hail stations in Aragatzotn Marz. Yura Azatyan, Director of the Agricultural and Environmental Division at the Regional Administration, told Hetq that while all are operating they all do not produce the same results. Mr. Azatyan brought the example of the three stations in the communities of Karbi and Ohanavan, which say extensive crop damage this year. He pointed out that the stations can only protect 80-100 hectares of crop land but that such lands in these communities are several times larger. There are 32 stations throughout Armavir Marz and Nver Petrosyan, an assistant to the Regional Governor told Hetq that this year that lands in the vicinity of the stations experienced no hail damage. Twelve of the stations are serviced by Barva, Ltd. Barva President Aram Vardanyan said that this year the company has come up with an Armenian version of an anti-frost device that they once imported from Belgium at $25,000 apiece. He said the Armenian devices could protect up to 15 hectares of land per night and that the only cost from $4,000 - $5,000. In addition, he claimed they were 4-5 times more effective than other models.