Azerbaijan reaches record level of agricultural production

By Aynur Karimova

The production of agricultural products has reached a record level in Azerbaijan, said Hamid Bagirov, the first Deputy Chairman of the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, at a press conference last week.

He noted that the production of agricultural goods increased by 7.3 percent in Azerbaijan in the first half of 2015 compared to the same period last year.

"This year an unprecedented level of growth has been achieved in this sector. We expect agricultural production to remain at the record level throughout the country to the end of the year," he added.

Bagirov also said that this growth was achieved despite a decline in the total acreage of grain.

"In the first half of 2015, the total acreage of cereals was 48,000 hectares less than in January-June last year. However, in the reported period, the production of grain was 321 tons more compared to the first half of 2014. [In January-June 2015] Grain harvest per hectare was 8 quintals more [than in the same period of last year]. In other words, these results were achieved not by increasing the acreage, and by increasing productivity," Bagirov stressed.

The volume of production of agricultural goods at current prices amounted to 2.65 billion manats in the country in January-June 2015 ($2.526 billion), a 7.3-percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Production of livestock increased by 2.6 percent, and crop production by 14 percent, in January-June 2015.

Agriculture is a meaningful component of Azerbaijan's non-oil economy and has significant potential for boosting the country’s export revenues, while attracting both local and foreign entrepreneurs. This sector is a key source of jobs, employing 38 percent of the population, and serves as a priority sector in the context of food security.

As a result of agrarian reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, guarantees were made for the dynamic development of agriculture. Thus, the sector was reformed and the regulatory framework was improved.

After restoration of state independence, the level of self-sufficiency for meat and dairy products stood at 30-35 percent in Azerbaijan. Currently, this figure has grown 92 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

The total volume of production of agricultural goods has increased by 3.4 times in Azerbaijan over the past ten years.

The official exchange rate on July 27 was 1.0492 AZN/USD.