Baku, Azerbaijan, May 2
By Azad Hasanli, Sara Israfilbayova – Trend:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is preparing a project for the development of the sector of hazelnut production in Azerbaijan, Melek Cakmak, head of FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan, told Trend.
Cakmak noted that FAO Azerbaijan Partnership Program is under implementation in development and application of sustainable sheep breeding and food value chain, improvement of cattle breeding through establishment of effective cattle breeding and feeding systems, establishment of a national disease-free seed potato production system in Azerbaijan, increase the employment of women and young people in the agricultural sector (AFAQ and AMAL projects), which in turn will increase and diversify the income sources of the rural population.
“The overall objective of the Partnership Program is to help improve agricultural productivity, thereby increase the incomes of small farmers, ensure food and nutrition security while contributing to decrease in rural poverty by creation of jobs and self-employment opportunities in rural areas,” she said.
Moreover, she remarked that FAO “supports the on-going reforms of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and working on the development of forest inventories and in preparation of forest management plans with the funds of Global Environment Facility and in triangular cooperation between FAO, Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic.”
“Furthermore, as UN family, we have been supporting Azerbaijan to reach its prioritized goals and targets in relation to Sustainable Development Goals," Cakmak said.