Baku, Azerbaijan, June 5
By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:
Subsidizing in Azerbaijan may be expanded and cover pomegranate producers, Head of the Pomegranate Producers and Exporters Association Farhad Garashov told Trend.
"We have requested Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry to add pomegranate into the list of citrus fruits. In this case, we will be able to increase the amount of subsidies, which currently stands at 50 manats per hectare for lubricants and fuel for pomegranate producers. This will provide additional support to producers," he said.
Garashov said the Association is also in talks on provision of additional benefits to pomegranate producers.
"In 2012-2013, several pomegranate producers installed irrigation systems through the Agroleasing OJSC. In 2015, the Azerbaijani president signed a decree on provision of a 40-percent discount on installation of such systems through the Agroleasing OJSC. We appealed to the Economy Ministry and other state agencies to achieve extension of these benefits to these producers, " he said.
Garashov said that it is planned to create a bank of seedlings of pomegranate trees in Azerbaijan, adding that relevant work is underway.
The Pomegranate Producers and Exporters Association was established on Oct.31, 2016 . It brings together 28 participants.
($1 = 1.7 AZN on June 4).
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