Azerbaijan to double average productivity of crops

The Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry plans to increase the average productivity of agricultural crop by more than 50 quintal per hectare in 2012, Deputy Agriculture Minister Bahram Aliyev told journalists.

"Although the figure already reached 50-60 quintals per hectare, the average productivity of the agriculture crop is less than 25 quintals per hectare in Azerbaijan. Our primary goal is to bring the figure up to 50 quintal per hectare," Aliyev said.

He said the country began to use new technologies that increase production, and save water and fertilizer. Also, new varieties of crops are imported with higher productivity.

"Today the country realizes specific projects. The planting of seeds with high productivity yields, introducing a new planting system and increasing care for the protection of plants are among the main conditions for developing new technologies and cultivating agricultural crops," Aliyev said.

He said unpredictable climate changes should also be taken into account.

As of Aug. 22 the productivity of fall and spring grains and legumes (excluding maize) in Azerbaijan was 24.7 quintals per hectare, as compared to19.8 quintals per hectare in 2010, with an increase of 24.7 percent.

The productivity of wheat is 25.1 quintals per hectare, which is 26.1 percent higher compared to 2010.

The agricultural production in Azerbaijan increased by 10.2 percent, including crop production, which increased by 15.1 percent, and livestock by 4.8 percent in the first seven months of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010.


/Trend/