BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 24
Trend:
Tobacco leaves are still being harvested in the fields, the Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry told Trend on Nov. 24.
As of November 20, farmers have collected 6,065.2 tons of tobacco and supplied 5,087.5 tons of dry tobacco to the tobacco warehouses.
The average tobacco yield increased in 2020 thanks to the observance of the agrotechnical rules, the organization of a high level of supplies of seedlings, fertilizers and medicines.
At the end of last year, the average tobacco yield was 19.3 centners. This year, tobacco growers renewed this figure before the end of the season.
Proceeding from the ongoing harvesting process, the average tobacco yield will be higher this year than last year.
The ministry stressed that this year tobacco was planted on a 3,144 hectare-area in Azerbaijan, planting was successful on a 3,141.5 hectare-area. Tobacco was planted in 12 Azerbaijani districts and Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 2020.
More than a half of the cultivated areas accounts for Shaki, Gakh and Oguz districts, which are traditional districts growing tobacco. Tobacco was planted on a 1,108 hectare-area in Shaki, a 496.5 hectare-area in Gakh and a 269 hectare-area in Oguz in 2020.
The average yield in Shaki is 32.5 centners, in Gakh - 13.5 centners, in Oguz - 14.9 centners.
Farmers from Zagatala, Balakan, Gabala, Tovuz, Ismayilli, Goranboy, Lerik, Masalli and Yardimli districts also gathered bountiful harvests.
The development of tobacco growing in the country is supported at the state level. The expansion of the state support mechanisms stimulates the development of tobacco growing.
Tobacco belongs to the category of subsidized crops. Farmers receive a subsidy from the state in the amount of 280 manat ($164) per hectare of tobacco growing areas. Moreover, a subsidy in the amount of 50 manat ($29) per each ton of dry tobacco supplied to the tobacco warehouses is paid to farmers.
Suppliers enter the information about the tobacco products they receive from farmers, including sales contracts and receipts, into the e-agriculture information system.
After verification of the information, the corresponding subsidy amounts are transferred to the farmers' cards. The issuance of tobacco subsidies in 2020 will begin in the second decade of December.