Azerbaijan will fully meet grain demand this year: agriculture ministry official

Day.Az: What can you say about process of financing agricultural producers this season?

Islam Ibrahimov: Farmers from great part of Azerbaijan have already submitted necessary documents to the local committee set up to organize process of subsidies to agricultural producers. In its turn, till July 25, the district commission created with the same purpose were tasked to collect documents from local commissions and submit them to the republican committee.

We have already taken all the appropriate documents from the commission in 59 regions of Azerbaijan which combine more than 1,950 local village committees.

Q: When farmer will receive subsidies?

A: All documents on providing subsidies to farmers from the state budget have already been sent to the Ministry of Finance and Kapital Bank. The bulk of the farmers already had cards given to them prior to the allocation of grants. Thus, funds will be transferred to accounts of farmers within 5-10 days.

The farmer who will receive subsidies include those engaged in production of grain, oats, cotton, potatoes and other vegetables, fruit and horticultural crops. But the advantage here is, of course, the production of wheat - about 60% of the grant accounts for  producers of this type of grain.

Q: What measures are expected to be taken to ensure food safety?

A: We take a range of measures to increase food production, including vegetables and fruits, meat to improve the security needs of the growing population. There are also measures to improve information for the population, infrastructure development in the regions of the country and construction of roads.

Q: What are the major problems entrepreneurs face in country’s regions?

A: In some regions infrastructure is the major problem. In particular, there is a need for the construction of modern roads and establishment of channels of water and energy. On the other hand, there are areas where the main problem is the lack of credit resources. However, sometimes the problem is lack of technology for agricultural activities.

Unfortunately, some farmers do not possess sufficient economic and legal knowledge. But in fact, credit agency of Agriculture Ministry implements projects in every region.

These projects offer information and advisory services to farmers. The problems are solved step-by-step.

/Day.Az/