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Azerbaijan specifies priority fields for agrarian sector in 2009

Business Materials 15 May 2009 16:35 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 15 / Trend , U.Ismayilova/

In 2009, Azerbaijan's agricultural sector growth is expected mainly in significantly increasing production of cereals and legumes-grains, as part of the relevant government programs and high agricultural activities, Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Ismat Abbasov told Trend on May 15.

"The production of potatoes, vegetables, melons, fruits and berries are expected at the level of 2008," Abbasov said.

The minister said there has been a 25.5-percent growth in Azerbaijan's agrarian sector within last 5 years as a result of implementation of same state programs. Thus, grain production increased by 23.9 percent, potatoes - 77.8 percent, vegetables - 34 percent, melons - 40.1 percent, fruits and berries - 43.2 percent and grapes - 70 percent in 2008 compared to 2003.

The main priorities of the Azerbaijani agriculture for 2009 are development of traditional areas - grain growing, viticulture, fruit growing and tea growing, he said.

Abasov believes that by 2015, as part of the state program on reliable providing people with food in 2008-2015, the ministry intends to achieve the following results: to bring the yield of wheat from 900,000 hectares of crop area to 32 quintals, increasing total production to 2.8 million tons, potatoes - up to 1.2 million tons of vegetables and melons products - up to 1.7 million tons of fruits and berries - 800,000 tons and tea leaves - up to 3,000 tons.

At the same time, the minister said it is planned to increase the sown area for oilseeds to 135,000 hectares, sugar beet - up to 20,000 hectares, fodder crops - 500,000 hectares.

In January-February 2009, Azerbaijan imported 240,500 tons of grain, 11,000 tons of wheat flour.

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