Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 1 / Trend A. Akhundov /
Entrepreneurs working in agriculture received loans worth 23.2 million manat during the first nine months of this year, Agriculture Minister Ismet Abbasov said.
"About 882 employers in 46 regions received preferential loans worth 23.2 million manat via authorized credit organizations," he added.
Abbasov stressed that about 286 loans were given to entrepreneurs working in agriculture, 203 to entrepreneurs working in livestock, 192 to entrepreneurs working in crop production, 65 to entrepreneurs working in viticulture, 55 to entrepreneurs working in beekeeping, 38 to entrepreneurs working in gardening, 33 to entrepreneurs working in poultry, six to entrepreneurs working in fishing, one to entrepreneurs working in greenhouse development, and one to entrepreneurs working in machinery and fertilizer purchasing.
"About 1,620 new jobs were created through these credit resources," the minister said.
He also noted that the average loan was 26,300 manat.
Abbasov said about 13,715 members of joint borrower groups and credit unions received micro loans worth 26.1 million manat during the reporting period within the second project, "Credit and Agricultural Development," supported by the World Bank via an executive credit agency.
"Besides supporting agricultural development, these loans have also had a positive impact on the suppression of migration in the region," he said.
The minister added that about 66 entrepreneurs working in agricultural product production and processing recived loans worth 7.5 million manat via authorized credit organizations.
The official exchange rate is 0.8005 manat to $1.