Agriculture in Azerbaijan (January-October 2014)

The high growth rates in all indices of agricultural development have been observed in the country for the last ten years.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture, during this period the volume of investments in agriculture increased by 15 times, the average salary of employees in this sector - by nine times.

At present, the production volumes of certain types of agricultural products meet the target indices for 2015 in the "State program on reliable provision of population with food in Azerbaijan in 2008-2015".

For example, the production ratio as of 2013 for the target indices set for 2015 in the meat production amounted to 87.6 percent, milk and dairy products - 75.8 percent, potatoes - 88.4 percent, vegetables and melons - 96 5 percent, fruit - 106.7 percent, grain - 79.3 percent.

After the restoration of the state independence, the self-sufficiency in meat and dairy products in the country was about 30-35 percent. At present, this figure is 92 and 76 percent, respectively.

Earlier, Azerbaijan imported potatoes to ensure domestic needs. But today the country annually exports more than 50,000 tons of new potatoes. The volumes of exports of fruits and vegetables, traditionally supplied by Azerbaijan to the foreign markets, are increased from year to year.

The scope of ongoing activities in this area demonstrates the volume of funds allocated from the state budget for the development of agriculture.

The state funding volume directed for the reconstruction of land reclamation-irrigation system, rendering the veterinary and phytosanitary services, research, tax breaks, subsidies and other purposes increased from 328 million AZN in 2007 to 657 million AZN in 2013. The amount of subsidies for agricultural producers increased from 66 million AZN to 110 million AZN.

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, agricultural output at current prices amounted to 4.637 billion AZN in Azerbaijan in January-October, decreasing by 3 percent compared to the same period of 2013.

According to the report, livestock production increased by 3.1 percent, crop production decreased by 8.1 percent for the period.

As of November 1, 2014, Azerbaijan collected 2.178 million tons of grain (excluding maize) from a 954,800 hectare area compared to 2.753 million tons from a 1.034 million hectare area a year earlier. On average, around 22.8 quintals of grain (26.6 quintals last year) were collected from one hectare. The grain yield reduced due to droughty weather.

The harvested area of cereals and legumes totaled 989,800 hectares (98.9 percent of a total sown area under this crop), tobacco - 1,100 hectares, cotton - 22,900 hectares, potatoes - 61,700 hectares, vegetables - 75,700 hectares (99.6 percent), melons - 28,000 hectares, as well as feeding sunflower - 11,700 hectares.

The grain production taking into account the collected corn amounted to 2.361 million tons in January-October 2014. Around 2,939 tons of grain were produced in the same period of 2013.

Around 1.167 million tons of vegetables, 819,300 tons of potatoes, 440,800 tons of melons, 701,000 tons of fruits and berries, 137,500 tons of grape, 82,500 tons of sugar beet , 436.2 tons of tea leaves, 20,300 tons of sunflower forage and 2,700 tons of tobacco leaves were produced in the farms during this period.

The grape production increased by 1.7 percent, sunflower forage - by 11.8 percent, melons - 2.6 percent, fruits and berries - 1.4 percent, production of tea leaves decreased by 20.7 percent, potatoes - by 17.4 percent and vegetables - by 2 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Source: Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee

The country produced 378,300 tons of meat (live weight), 1.566 million tons of milk, 1.299 billion eggs, 16.5 tons of wool during the reporting period.

Meat production increased by 1.5 percent, milk - by 3.8 percent, eggs - by 12 percent, wool - 1.8 percent in January-October 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.