Review of agricultural sector in Azerbaijan (january-october 2010)

Harvesting of most agricultural products has almost completed in Azerbaijan by the end of October 2010. So, according to the data provided by the State Statistics Committee, as of Nov. 1, grain production decreased 987,800 tons or 33 percent compared to the previous year and totaled 1.999 million tons. Average grain yield per hectare compared with the previous year dropped to 20.7 compared to 26.5 quintals per hectare.

Torrential rains observed across the country in the spring had a negative impact on cereal production.

Two million tons of grain have been collected in 2010 in Azerbaijan, 1.3 million tons of which account for food wheat. Given that the country's needs for food wheat is 1.5 million tons, the missing volume is planned to be covered at the expense of grain imports, particularly from Kazakhstan.

Source: State Statistics Committee

Cotton harvesting in Azerbaijan for the reported period has increased. So, as of Nov. 1, the farms have sold 28,100 tons of cotton to processing enterprises, which is 21.3 percent more than the same period of last year.

During the reported period, growth was recorded in the tobacco production. So, 3,100 tons of tobacco leaf have been harvested from the tobacco plantations, which is 23.7 percent more than in the first ten months of 2009. During the same period, 530.5 tons of green tea leaf have been harvested from tea plantations, which is 42.3 percent more than the first ten months of 2009.

The autumn-winter field work has already begun Azerbaijan for 2011. According to government programs, grain is expected to be harvested in an area of 900,000 hectares.

In January-October, a significant and sustained development was recorded in the livestock. Thus, over ten months, the country produced 271,700 tons of meat of livestock and poultry, 1,281,100 tons of milk, 992.9 million pieces of eggs, 15,300 tons of wool. Compared to January-October 2009, meat production increased by 6.9 percent, milk - by 7.6 percent, eggs by 0.1-percent and wool - by 3.1 percent.

Production of cattle-breeding (in ths tons) 

Source: State Statistics Committee

The total amount of agricultural production over the ten months of 2010 was 3.162 billion manat, which is 3.8 percent less than the same period of the last year. In particular, livestock production has grown 6.4 percent, while crop production fell by 10.1 percent. The reason was torrential rains observed in 40 districts of the country, as a result of which 50,000 ha planted areas remained under water.

Factual prices of the products of the agricultural, forestry, fishery and hunting economies in Azerbaijan, in ths manat

In October, production prices for agricultural products in Azerbaijan increased by 0.9 percent (data by State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan).