Agriculture in Azerbaijan (January-March 2016)

Azerbaijan should develop the agriculture sector, primarily cotton-growing, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in his closing speech at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the socio-economic development in January-March 2016 and the upcoming challenges.

The president added that cotton is such a product that there is no need for searching the market.

The president stressed that the development of agriculture has always been a priority for Azerbaijan and its value has increased even more in the current situation.

"I am delighted that despite the global economic crisis, the agricultural production in Azerbaijan increased by 2.7 percent," the president said. "The food safety is a top priority. I hope that soon we will be self-sufficient in food. For this purpose, much work has been recently conducted. But more must be done."

"The farmers must be supported," the president said. "New approaches are offered for getting subsidies. I am sure that it is necessary to carry out a special subsidy policy for each region as Azerbaijan is a country having many climatic zones."

"There are nine climatic zones," the president said. "Special agricultural products must be cultivated for each zone individually. Each district, each economic zone must have its subsidy package. Then agriculture will develop more effectively."

The agricultural production volume in actual prices amounted to 643.6 million manat in Azerbaijan in January-March 2016 or by 2.7 percent more compared to the same period of 2015.

According to the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee's report, during this period the livestock production increased by 2.5 percent (630.7 million manat), crop production - by 9.2 percent (12.9 million manat).

As of April 1, 2016, some 120,000 hectares were sown, which is 2.7 percent more than in the same period of 2015.

According to the report, some 8,500 hectares of grain and leguminous crops (excluding maize), 1,900 hectares of maize, 28,000 hectares of potatoes, 25,400 hectares of vegetables, 4,800 hectares of melons and gourds, 3,600 hectares of sugar beet, 1,300 hectares of sunflower, 1,200 hectares of cotton and 45,000 hectares of perennial plants have been planted since the beginning of the season.

According to the report, some 15,100 tons of vegetables were produced in January-March, which is 16 percent more than in the same period of 2015.

Sowing of spring plants in agriculture of Azerbaijan, ha

Source: State Statistics Committee

During the reporting period some 111,800 tons of meat in live weight, 440,900 tons of milk, 407 million pieces of eggs were produced. Meat production increased by 1.8 percent, milk - by 3.2 percent, the production of eggs by 4.3 percent in the country compared to January-March 2015.

The production of eggs increased. So, poultry farms produced 182.1 million eggs in January-March 2016 compared to 176.3 million eggs during the same period of 2015.

During the reporting period, some 2,719,600 heads accounted for cattle, including 1,302,600 cows and bulls, while 8,828 heads accounted for sheep and goats. This is by 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent more than in the same period of 2015 respectively.

The timely livestock and veterinary measures were taken. This had a positive impact on the dynamic development of animal husbandry.

Livestock products, thousand tons

Source: State Statistics Committee