BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.24
By Fidan Babayeva – Trend:
The season of tobacco harvest in Azerbaijan is nearing end, Trend reports on Dec.24 to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the ministry, Azerbaijani farmers collected 6,936 tons of dry tobacco, of which 6,520 tons were supplied to the tobacco processing centers.
"The proper adherence to the agrotechnical rules by farmers this year has led to an increase in the average yield of tobacco," the ministry said.
"As of 2019, the average yield of tobacco reached 19.3 centners per hectare," the ministry said. "Although this year the harvesting process has not yet been completed, the average yield is higher than last year."
"Presently, the average yield of tobacco leaves is 22.1 centners, which is 2.8 centners more than last year," the ministry said. "As far as the harvesting process is underway, the average yield is expected to further increase."
Tobacco has been sown on a 3,144-hectare-area in Azerbaijan this year. Tobacco was planted in 12 districts and in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in 2020.
More than a half of the sown areas is in Shaki, Gakh and Oghuz districts. Tobacco was sown on a 1,108-hectare-area in Shaki, on a 496 hectare-area in Gakh and on a 269 hectare-area in Oghuz in 2020.
The development of tobacco growing in the country is supported by the state. The expansion of state support mechanisms stimulates the development of this sphere.
Tobacco refers to the category of agricultural crops. The subsidies are given both for planting and harvest. Farmers receive subsidies from the state in the amount of 280 manat ($164) per each hectare of tobacco harvest.
Moreover, a subsidy is paid in the amount of 50 manat ($29) per ton of dry tobacco which is supplied to the tobacco warehouses and 5 manat ($2) - per ton of wet tobacco.
(1 USD = 1.7 manat on Dec.24)
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Fidan_Babaeva