Azerbaijan, Baku, March 7 /Trend, A. Akhundov/
A new concept of the development of agriculture will be prepared in Azerbaijan, the minister of Agriculture Ismet Abbasov told journalists.
"At the conference, the president noted a number of shortcomings, especially in the issuance of subsidies to the producers of agricultural products," the minister said. "Later, the ministry held a board meeting and established a working group, which is now engaged in gathering opinions and suggestions from regional executive authorities with a view to prepare a new concept of agricultural development in the country. Some data has already been received. After collection, we will discuss it and then submit it for discussion at the board. We will submit it to the head of state after achieving an agreement with the respective structures," Abbasov stated.
The concept will reflect the specialization of the country's regions depending on climatic and environmental conditions, opportunities for the development of agriculture, etc.
Moreover, according to Abbasov, the working group appealed to the heads of all local executive authorities with the instruction to strengthen the control over transparency of documents submitted to the state committee on subsidies.
"In accordance with the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, local commissions collect information on crop areas and submit it to regional executive authorities which later approve the data and send it to the state commission. Then, the state commission checks these documents within 10 days for their later submission to the Finance Ministry, which provides funding grants via the agent bank (KapitalBank). This process has certain shortcomings, and misuse of subsidies has been recorded. However, today the issue is taken under strict control," the minister said.
According to him, the government is also considering various options for simplification of subsidies, with the main purpose being the effective use of granted funds.