REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Argentina's economic activity fell 4.4% in June from a year earlier, the country's official statistics agency said on Wednesday, below the expectations of a Refinitiv poll of a 4.0% drop. The country's economy has been severely hit by poor performance in the agricultural sector, which registered a 40.4% drop year-on-year according to INDEC data . "The impact of the poor performance of the agricultural sector is especially strong," said economist and director of Invenomica Pablo Besmedrisnik consulting firm. "As agriculture improves its figures, the general drop rate will moderate," consulting firm Orlando Ferreres & Asociados said in a report. Reporting by Hernan Nessi; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Invenomica Pablo Besmedrisnik, Orlando Ferreres, Asociados, Hernan Nessi, Carolina Pulice, Isabel Woodford Organizations: REUTERS, Orlando, Thomson Locations: Azul, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES