Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr U. Ismayilova / In 2008, the prices for bread in Azerbaijan will rise by an additional 50%, the head of Azerbaijani Council of Free Consumers, Eyub Huseynov, said while commenting on rapid price hikes for grains in Azerbaijan and Russia, as well as on Kazakhstan's statement on the rise in prices for exporting grains.
Azerbaijan exports grains from mainly Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, as well as some other countries.
According to the expert, prices for bread will rise by an additional 30% by the end of this year.
"The rise in prices for grains will occur in Azerbaijan due to the decision to increase energy prices taken by the Council on Tariffs in January. As a result, farmers suspended the cultivation of land," he said.
The expert noted that for the time being, the most optimal decision to solve the problem was to decrease customs or prices for import of grain from other countries, where prices for bread are more stable.
"But that also cannot play a significant role in price adjustments for grain in Azerbaijan," Huseynov said.
Present average prices for bread in Azerbaijan is AZN 0.3.