BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 6. Azerbaijan plans to increase the area of modern irrigation systems by more than two times by 2030, the Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, said on the 2nd day of the 19th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition and Forum in Baku today, Trend reports.
"Currently, agriculture accounts for approximately 5–6% of Azerbaijan’s GDP. More than 25% of employment is in the agricultural sector. Thus, we recognize that agriculture plays an important economic role, as well as a very significant social role.
<...> As for the water shortage, in general, in my personal opinion, even though Azerbaijan imports about 70% of its water resources from abroad, we do not have a problem of water scarcity; we have a problem of water resource management," the minister stated.
According to Mammadov, various steps are currently being taken to address this issue: “First, this involves the collection and creation of reservoirs, regardless of their size, whether small, medium, or large. The government is currently implementing large-scale projects across the country.
The second important step is to modernize the water transportation system: transitioning from open channels, especially earthen ones- to concrete channels, as well as to closed systems, particularly pipelines. This reduces water losses, conserves land resources, and improves water use efficiency.
The third step is to ensure that water supplied to villages and agricultural lands is delivered through closed pipeline irrigation systems and, of course, is accounted for (measured).
The fourth step is the implementation of modern irrigation systems.
Mamadov added that currently, approximately 10–14% of irrigated land in Azerbaijan is covered by modern irrigation systems, about 130,000 hectares.
"By 2030, we have a tentative goal of more than doubling this area. Thus, the plan is to expand it to 300,000 hectares covered by modern irrigation systems.
And, as expected, a new agricultural program will be launched to achieve this," Mammadov emphasized.
