Review of agriculture in Azerbaijan (January-June 2011)

Azerbaijan is expected to produce 2.5 million tons of grain in Azerbaijan, which is 500,000 tons more than last year. "We forecast production of 2.5 million tons of grain given favorable weather conditions, 1.7 million of which will account for food grain," the Minister of Agriculture Ismet Abasov said.

Barley is planned to yield 800,000 tons in 2011.

Last year the country harvested more than 2.000 million tons of grain, which is 33 percent less than in 2009. Some 20.7 quintals of grain were harvested from each hectare of land, on average.

Abasov said today the country's demand in grain crops is 3-3.2 million tons. "Whatever remains lacking will be imported from other countries. Today Azerbaijan imports grain from Russia and Kazakhstan," Abasov stressed.

He said that although last year's grain production in Azerbaijan fell due to adverse weather conditions, a deficit was not observed on this type of production in the country. "Azerbaijan's grain demands, as well as all types of agricultural products, will also be fully met this year," Abasov said.

According to State Statistics Committee, in January-June 2011, agricultural production in Azerbaijan increased by 6.2 percent, including crop production - by 8.3 percent, livestock production - 4.8 percent compared to the same period of last yea r.

The spring field work in the country ended in June, and as of June 22, the country conducted spring sowing of plants in an area of ​​397,297 hectares. In 2011, the cultivated area in Azerbaijan increased by 5.8 percent or 21,643 hectares.

Sowing of spring plants in 2011, ha

Source: State Statistics Committee

In the field of livestock, during the re[porting period, the number of cattle increased during the year by 1.3 percent and reached 2.66 million, sheep and goats - one percent - to 8.63 million.

During the reporting period, were produced 207,900 tons of meat, 797,800 tons of milk, 517.7 million units of eggs, 14,200 tons of wool.

Compared to the same period of the last year, in January-June this year, the production of meat grew by 5.6 percent, milk - by 7.8 percent, and wool - by 7.5 percent, eggs - has declined by 15.2 percent.

Production of cattle-breeding (in ths tons)

Source: State Statistics Committee

According to State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, in January-June 2011, the total production and services in the forestry sphere of the country amounted to 402,600 and fishing - 60,600 manat.

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