Baku, Azerbaijan, March 13
By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:
Azerbaijan has all the opportunities to completely stop importing agricultural products, the former agriculture minister of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Rajab Orujov, told Trend on March 13.
Presently, the main agricultural product imported to Azerbaijan is grain, according to him.
"This is due to the fact that the quality of grain produced in Azerbaijan, particularly wheat, does not correspond to food standards. However, this is not linked to natural factors, as wheat was historically grown in Azerbaijan," Orujov said.
The expert noted that the reason is non-compliance with agro-technical measures in the production of cereals.
"There is a need to improve the agro-technical measures in the production of cereals. It is necessary to apply innovative technologies, to carry out proper care for crops, " the expert said.
He noted that Azerbaijan has all the necessary natural conditions for growing not only wheat, but also soybean, corn and sugar beet.
"It is just necessary to strengthen the selection work, carry out the proper care of the crops. And if these norms are met, then Azerbaijan can completely abandon the import of agricultural products and use the potential of the Kura-Araz lowland, where most of the country's irrigated areas are located. This will allow us to get harvest twice a year, "Orujov said.
In 2017, Azerbaijan imported 1.2 million tons of wheat, which is 25 percent less than in 2016.
In 2017, Azerbaijan produced agricultural products worth 6.58 billion manat, which is 4.2 percent more than in 2016.
(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on March 13)