Review of Agriculture in Azerbaijan (January-May 2013)

The spring-field work finished in Azerbaijan in May, and spring plants were sowed by June 1 on an area of 349,600 hectares, which is 0.5 percent less than in the same period of 2012. Reduction in the volume of sowing was contributed by the adverse weather conditions that prevailed in the country until mid. April. This weather slowed the cotton crop in low-lying areas and planting corn in the mountains.

However, favorable weather conditions in May had a positive effect on the development of all sectors of agricultural production in Azerbaijan. According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, potatoes were planted in an area of ​​64,600 hectares, vegetables - 74,500 hectares, grain and legumes - 66,800 hectares, water melons and melons - 27,800 hectares, cotton - 23,000 hectares, sunflower for feed - 8,900 hectares, sugar beet - 5,000 hectares, 71,200 - perennials.

Grain and leguminous crops, including corn, accounted for 19.1 percent, technical plants - 10.9 percent, potatoes, vegetables and melons - 47.8 percent, fodder plants - 23.1 percent in the structure of spring crops.

Sowing of spring plants in Azerbaijani agriculture, hectare

Source: Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee

A harvesting process was actively conducted. As of June 1, around 57,100 tons of autumn and spring grain crops were collected in Azerbaijan. This exceeds the figure for the same period of last year by 20.2 percent. According to the Agriculture Ministry, grain production volume is expected to hit at least 2.8 million tons in Azerbaijan in 2013.

The farms produced 76,800 tons of vegetables or 7 percent more than during this period last year, 53,500 tons of potatoes (increased by 8.6 percent), 7,900 tons of fruits and berries (8.3 percent), 254.5 tons of tea or 7 percent more.

During the reporting period, the country produced 178,100 tons of meat in live weight, 741,100 tons of milk, 566.8 million units of eggs, 13.1 tons of wool. Meat production increased by 2.8 percent, milk - by 5.9 percent, eggs - by 14.5 percent, wool - 3.4 percent in January-May this year compared to the first five months of 2012.

Production of main livestock products in Jan.-May 2013, thousand tons

Source: Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee

In January-May, agricultural output in Azerbaijan at current prices amounted to 1.087.7 billion manat, an increase by 5.2 percent compared to the same period of 2012. The crop production increased by 9.6 percent, livestock production - by 4.7 percent.