Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.20
By Abbas Akhundov - Trend:
Today, 95 percent of agricultural production falls to small farms in Azerbaijan. It is important to strengthen cooperation between them and the large holdings, head of the agricultural policy department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Azer Amiraslanov said at an international high level forum on private sector involvement in the agrarian sector development in Baku on Feb. 20.
"Agriculture is exempt from all taxes, except land," he said. "Privileges for the purchase of fertiliser and fuel have been delivered. Some 65-70 percent of the loan portfolio of the National Entrepreneurship Support Fund under the Ministry of Economy and Industry falls to the agriculture. Today the priority for an agrarian policy is to increase the effectiveness of state support."
Moreover, Azerbaijan will improve the efficiency of land use, expand the practice of innovation and modern technology, improve productivity and level of processing industry and increase the export potential in this area.
"One of the priorities is to use e-agriculture," he added. "Its introduction must not be formal. E-agriculture will change this field institutionally and structurally. In this context, Azerbaijan will introduce an electronic registration system for farmers and land registration."
All these objectives will cover the new strategy of developing the Azerbaijani agro-industrial complex. Its development is envisaged by President Aliyev's decree on additional measures in the area of improving the activity of the market of food and agricultural products. The strategy will cover the basic principles of agrarian policy, strategic goals and priorities for the development of agriculture.
Translated by NH
Edited by SM