Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 March /corr. Trend I.Khalilova / There are plans to establish a grain fund in order to ensure food security of Azerbaijan, and the proposals have been presented to the Country's President, said the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Artur Rasizade, while presenting report at the Parliament with regards to the results of socio-economic development in 2007 on 14 March.
This issue became urgent due to protraction of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Unlike last years, in 2008 record volume of grain is expected to be produced in Azerbaijan because this year the grain sowing areas increased by almost 130,000 tons up to 601,000 tons. It provides grounds to expect that the grain production will increase by almost 300,000 tons. However, Azerbaijan is still unable to cover its grain demand at the expense of its internal production.
This year the grain production in Azerbaijan is expected to increase up to 2.5mln tons. Accordingly 700-800,000 tons of grain will be imported.
Last year 2mln tons of grain were produced in Azerbaijan, with 1.3mln food grain. The annual food grain demand of Azerbaijan equals 1.530mln, monthly 129,640 tons and per capita - 180 kg per month. In general, Azerbaijan's grain demand totals 3mln tons per year.
The Government of Azerbaijan intends to fully refuse the grain import by 2010.
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