Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr S. Babayeva / The removal of VAT will intensify the import of grain to Azerbaijan and will stop the reports of its deficit, Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister, Ismat Abbasov reported on 1 August during a meeting of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of social and economic development in the first half of 2007 and the upcoming tasks.
According to Abbasov, the remainder of grain in Azerbaijan in January 2007 made up 656,400t. Some 590,700t of grain was imported to Azerbaijan in the first half of the year. Given the imported amounts and consumption by the population in the first half of the year, the remainder of grain in Azerbaijan comprised 482,100t at the beginning of July.
Abbasov said that the remainder of the bread-grain will account for 638,000t in January of 2008, owing to internal production.
By 30 July, harvest in Azerbaijan was implemented on 671,000ha comprising 1.768mln t of grain. Compared to last year, the yield of each hectare grew by 0.7centners. The harvest is underway.
Despite unfavourable conditions, production of autumn and spring grain-crops and legumes is forecasted to comprise 1.92mln t by the end of the year.