Sowing of spring plantings began in most regions of Azerbaijan. And despite the unfavorable weather, as of April 1, 104,400 hectares of spring plantings were sowed, which is 0.1% more than same period of the last year.
This year, the reduction in acreage under grain and leguminous plants made up 4.1%.
The largest decline occurred in the sown area under cotton at 82.8 percent. The point is that currently it is economically impractical to produce cotton because of low prices for the product on world markets, which also led to reduction in cotton production in Azerbaijan.
According to the data provided by the State Statistics Committee, in January-March 2009, crops were planted on 8,300 ha compared to 8,600 ha in 2008. Sown area of potatoes in 2009 made up 33,200 ha compared to 35,400 ha in 2008 (-6.1 percent). This year, the increase of vegetables sown areas totaled 15.4 percent. Thus, the vegetables sown areas in 2009 amounted to 23,300 ha compared to 20,200 ha in 2008.
Sowing of spring plantings in 2009, ha
2009 |
2008 |
2009/2008, % |
|
In total |
104366 |
104232 |
100,1 |
Including - Crops |
8320 |
8675 |
95,9 |
Of them - grain |
236 |
339 |
69,6 |
Oats |
514 |
457 |
112,5 |
Corn in total: |
1697 |
1550 |
109,5 |
Cotton |
98 |
571 |
17,2 |
Potato |
33196 |
35351 |
93,9 |
Vegetable |
23257 |
20147 |
115,4 |
Melon and watermelon |
2821 |
2585 |
109,1 |
One year plantings |
212 |
475 |
44,6 |
Long years plantings |
29790 |
30543 |
97,5 |
Tuberous |
185 |
141 |
131,2 |
Sugar beet |
3369 |
1929 |
174,7 |
Source: State Statistics Committee
In January-March 2009 meat production was 72,400 tons compared to 71,100 tons in January-March 2008 (an increase of 1.9 percent).
Milk production in January-March 2009 totaled 319,600 tons compared to 310,400 tons (+3.0%) in January-March 2008, eggs - 290,400 to 239,200 (+21.4%).
Production of cattle-breeding (in ths tons)
Meat (alive) |
2009 |
2008 |
As compared to 2008, % |
Milk |
72,4 |
71,1 |
101,9 |
Egg, in mln |
319,6 |
310,4 |
103,0 |
Meat (alive) |
290,4 |
239,2 |
121,4 |
Source: State Statistics Committee
According to official statistics, as of April 1, 2009, the total amount of the agricultural production made up AZN 325.4mln compared to AZN 287.6mln during the same period of 2008.
Factual cost of forestry products amounted to 317,200 manat compared to 214,000 manat in January-March last year (+48.2 percent), fishery - 55,600 manat compared to 38,900 manat in January-March 2008 (+42.9 percent).
Factual prices of the products of the agricultural, forestry, fishery and hunting economies in Azerbaijan in, thous manats
2009 |
2008 |
|
In total, including |
325346,4 |
287604,7 |
Agriculture |
324971,7 |
287350,4 |
Forestry |
317,2 |
214,0 |
Fishery |
55,6 |
38,9 |
Hunting |
1,4 |
1,4 |
In March of this year the production prices for agricultural products in Azerbaijan decreased 2.9 percent compared with the previous month. According to the State Statistics Committee, in January-March growth of 8.4 percent was observed compared with the same period of 2008.
In March, crop production and melon-growing prices declined 0.4 percent as compared to February. Fruit and hazelnut cheapened 0.3 percent, and other plants - 0.6 percent.