Azerbaijan, Baku, July 15 / Trend U.Ismayilova /
Total crop production in Azerbaijan fell by 5.8 percent, while livestock production rose by 2.8 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Agricultural production declined by one percent in January-June, the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee reported.
Spring sowing was performed on 375,700 hectares as of June 21, which is 5.2 percent more than in 2009. The sown area increased mainly due to cotton and perennial grass crop growth.
This year, cotton seeds were sown on 30,500 hectares (44.1 percent more than last year), sunflower seeds were sown on 8,900 hectares (19.6 percent), sugar beets were sown on 8,600 hectares (14 percent), tobacco was sown on 1,400 hectares (13.6 percent) , perennial herbs were sown on 78,200 hectares (9 percent) and melons were sown on 32,500 hectares (4.3 percent)/
Torrential rains in recent months had negatively impactd agricultural production, the committee reported. As a result, 1.268 million tons of grain (20.5 tons per hectare) were harvested as of July 5. The figure is 410,900 tons of grain less than the same period of 2009.
During the reporting period, 257 tons of green tea leaves were also harvested from tea plantations, which is 0.8 percent less than in the first half of 2009.
The country produced only 149,200 tons of livestock and poultry meat, 739,700 tons of milk and 610.7 million chicken eggs and 13,200 tons of wool in January-June 2009. Meat production increased by 1,900 tons, or 1.3 percent, milk increased by 39,156 tons, or 5.6 percent, and wool increased by 176 tons, or 1.4 percent, while egg production decreased by 3.4 million units, or 0.5 percent compared to first half of 2009.
The total value of agricultural production based on actual cost amounted to 1.306 billion manat, which is one percent less than during the same period of 2009.
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