Agriculture in Azerbaijan (January-June 2016)

Production growth in the agricultural sector of Azerbaijan in 2016 is forecasted at the level of at least six percent, Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov said.

“If we expected seven percent increase in accordance with the actually grown crop in first half of the year, in view of the fact that due to the continuous rain for 25 days the sowing began 15 days later, and also due to the fact that most of the figures accounted for July, the increase amounted to 3.1 percent, and this growth encompasses all the main types of agricultural products,” said the minister.

Asadov added that according to the World Bank's forecast, a 4.2 percent increase in agriculture is expected in Azerbaijan in 2016, and four percent increase in 2017 and 2018. “It is noted that due to this, Azerbaijan will take one of the leading places among the Central and Eastern European countries covered by the report,” the minister added.

According to preliminary estimates, Asadov said that this year Azerbaijan is expected to produce more than three million tons of grain. Currently, there are no serious problems in the sale of grain.

It is noteworthy that for the first time, the export of food beans, rice, food and feed barley and millet, dried fruit, and livestock - meat and dairy products started, he added.

“At the same time, the geography of exports expanded, and, along with the traditional Russian market, included Iran, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Iraq and Turkmenistan,” the minister added.

The agricultural production volume in actual prices amounted to 2.5 billion manat in Azerbaijan in January-June 2016 or by 3.1 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 3.8 percent, crop production - by 2.4 percent.

Crop production

As of June 24, 2016, some 371,900 hectares were sown in Azerbaijan.

According to the report, some 24,300 hectares of grain and leguminous crops (excluding maize), 37,000 hectares of maize, 62,100 hectares of potatoes, 73,100 hectares of vegetables, 26,200 hectares of melons and gourds, 51,800 hectares of cotton, 7,100 hectares of sugar beet, 8,200 hectares of sunflower, 2,400 hectares of tobacco, 73,500 hectares of perennial plants, 2,200 hectares of annual plants, 165 hectares of fodder root crops and 3,800 hectares of other plants have been planted since the beginning of the season.

Sowing of spring plants in agriculture of Azerbaijan, ha

Source: State Statistics Committee

Harvesting of agricultural products also continued during the reporting period. As much as 312,300 tons of potatoes (8.2 percent increase), 395,700 tons of vegetables (3.3 percent increase), 43,100 tons of watermelons (15.2 percent increase), 95,400 tons of fruits and berries (2.4 percent increase), 507.8 tons of tea (85.7 percent increase) and 110 tons of tobacco (43.8 percent increase) were harvested as of July 1.

In addition, as much as 2.09 million tons of grain and leguminous crops were harvested during the reporting period, which is 10,100 tons or 0.5 percent less than the same period last year. This decrease is due to unstable weather conditions.

Creation of a seed fund and the allocation of funds by the head of state in the extent necessary for the construction of seed companies and purchase of equipment by the government for agrochemical laboratories will ensure the achievement of these goals, said Asadov.

The minister said that this year it is also expected to produce more than 100,000 tons of crops, which is three times more when compared to last year, and this will make an important contribution to solving the problem of employment in the region along with an increase in foreign exchange earnings and increase in rural income opportunities of the population.

Asadov also touched upon the negative impact of pests on crop production. He said that the intensification of international trade increases the risk of transfer, dissemination and adaptation of pests to new areas.

The minister stressed that thus, as a result of hundreds of veterinary and sanitary, as well as phytosanitary measures conducted in Azerbaijan, epizootic and phytosanitary situation has been stabilized.

Livestock

During the reporting period some 231,100 tons of meat in live weight, 1.01 million tons of milk, 821.9 million pieces of eggs and 15,900 tons of wool were produced. Meat production increased by 2.6 percent, milk - by 4.9 percent, the production of eggs by 5.4 percent and wool – by 3.4 percent in the country compared to January-June 2015.

In addition, production of cocoons has resumed in the country, the corresponding measures were taken in the sphere of creation of modern infrastructure for the production of silk, sericulture organization and restoration of activity of the enterprises on breeding cocoons. As a result, as much as 70.7 tons of raw cocoons were produced in the current year against 232 kilograms in the last year, which is 300 times increase.

Livestock products, thousand tons

Source: State Statistics Committee

The growth of domestic production contributed to a significant reduction in the volume of imports of most part of animal products, according to the minister of agriculture Heydar Asadov.

In the first half of 2016, the Azerbaijani agricultural producers received 735 units of agricultural machinery and equipment through the line of Aqrolizinq OJSC, according to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan.

In general, during the reporting period, the equipment worth 22.5 million manat was issued, which is 36.8 percent less than the same period of 2015. For comparison, equipment worth 35.6 million manat was issued through the line of Aqrolizinq OJSC in January-June 2015.

In total in the reporting period, agricultural producers received 296 different tractors, 121 combine harvesters, 106 seeders, other machinery and equipment through the line of Aqrolizinq OJSC.