Review of agriculture in Azerbaijan (january 2013)

The agricultural enterprises, private entrepreneurs, households have begun spring field work in the Azerbaijani agriculture since January. The agrotechnical actions are held at the fields and the necessary agricultural machinery is used. According to the forecast of the Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry, it is planned to collect 2.7-2.8 million tons of grain in 2013. According to the initial data, autumn grain harvest is expected to be gathered in a 997,400 hectare area, of which 690,500 hectares or 69.2 percent fall to wheat, 306,900 hectares or 30.8 percent - to the barley fields.

Azerbaijan directly subsidizes grain production, seeking to completely remove the dependence on grain imports. The country's domestic demand for grain is estimated at 3-3.5 million tons a year. The Azerbaijani Commission on State Subsidies to Agricultural Producers authorized payments to farmers in January 2013. Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Ismet Abbasov said that the commission received 1,309 requests for funding from the territorial commissions of 58 regions. As a result of the consideration, a decision was made to pay the state subsidies to the amount of 24.890 million manat, which will support the work conducted at 622,262 hectares of agricultural land.

An increase is observed in livestock production in January 2013 compared to the previous year. So, meat was produced to the amount of 35,500 tons in January 2013 or 2.3 percent more and 129,800 tons of milk or 5.0 percent more compared to January 2012. Some 111.2 million eggs were produced during the same month or 20.3 percent more than in January 2012. The timely livestock and veterinary actions and work conducted to improve the productive qualities of the breed of cattle had a positive impact on the dynamic development of livestock.

Production of main livestock products, tons

source: Azerbaijani state statistics committee

The agricultural production increased by 4.5 percent to 187.5 million manat, vegetable and crop production increased by 4.9 percent, livestock - by 4.5 percent in Azerbaijan in January 2013.

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, the production prices on agricultural products increased by 1.6 percent in January 2013 compared to the previous month. The production prices on annual plants increased by 3.1 percent, long-term - by 1.3 percent in January. The wheat prices increased by 0.1 percent, barley - 0.5 percent, tomatoes - 0.4 percent, greens - 2 percent, potatoes - 11.9 percent, garlic - 0.1 percent, pumpkin - 3.7 percent, dry grass - 1.9 percent. The price on cabbage reduced by 0.2 percent, radish - 0.5 percent, parsley - 0.4 percent.

The production price on apples increased by 2.7 percent, pomegranate - 0.1 percent, persimmons - 0.4 percent, lemon - 0.6 percent, tangerines - 15.6 percent, quince - 1.6 percent, nuts - 1 percent, hazelnuts - 5.4 percent, chestnuts - 13.9 percent.

The production prices on veal increased by 1.7 percent, buffalo meat - 0.6 percent, turkey - 3.7 percent, beef and lamb (live weight) by 0.3 and 1.2 percent, poultry (live weight) - 2 percent, milk - 0.5 percent, honey - 0.7 percent. The production cost of sheep and goats for the period decreased by 0.5 percent and the price on eggs by 3.4 percent. The production costs of live fish increased by 1.5 percent in January.