PremiumReview of Agriculture In Azerbaijan (Jan.-May 2012)

According to the country's State Statistics Committee, Azerbaijan produced agricultural products worth 1.009.7 billion manat in January-May 2012, which is 7.1 percent more than in January-May 2011. Thus, the production of vegetable products increased by 23.1 percent, livestock products - by 5.4 percent, fish were caught in the amount of 67,600 manat.

As of June 1, 351,400 hectares of area was ploughed up under spring sowing, which is 6.6 percent less than the same period of 2011.

Some 62,800 hectares (17.9 percent of all the crop) were sown under grains and cereals, potatoes - 65,300 hectares (18.6 percent) and vegetables - 73,100 hectares (20.8 percent), melons - 28,200 hectares (eight percent), cotton - 29,300 hectares (8.3 percent), sunflower - 9,500 hectares (2.7 percent), and so on.

Planting of spring plants in 2012, hectare

Source: State Statistics Committee

In 2012, the ministry plans to collect up to 2.55 million tons of cereals. An increase in sowing areas by 40,000 hectares this year, allows predicting grain production growth by 100,000 tons.

There is no shortage of agricultural equipment in Azerbaijan and crops will begin to be harvested. The country has more than 2,600 combines. They are all in working condition and expect to start work

As of June 1, the harvested potatoes was 49,300 tons, or 1.2 percent more than the same period in 2011, vegetables - 71,800 tons (an increase of 10.3 percent), fruit and berries - 7,300 tons (an increase of 52.8 percent), tea leaves - 237.8 tons (13.8 percent).

Some 47,500 tons of crops were collected from an area of ​​19,100 hectares.

There was an increase on all indicators in the livestock sector in January-May. In January-May 2012 production of meat grew by 3.4 percent compared to the same period of last year and amounted to 173,200 tons, milk - 699,600 tons (a 7.2-percent increase), eggs - 495.2 million (an increase of 12.2 percent).

Production of main livestock products, thousands tons

Source: State Statistics Committee

According to Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee, producer prices on agricultural products declined by 0.4 per cent in Azerbaijan in May compared to the previous month.

In May, prices on annual plants declined by 1.3 per cent with perennial plants - 0.5 per cent. The producer prices on greens reduced by 8.9 per cent, cucumbers - 17.1 per cent, garlic - 4.9 per cent, onions - 0.6 per cent, clover - 8.9 per cent and the production of dry grass - 2 per cent.

Production prices on tomatoes increased by 0.9 per cent, green beans - 2.1 per cent, pepper - 1.1 per cent and potatoes 0.1 per cent.

The producer prices on pears fell by 3.5 per cent, lemons - 1.4 per cent, hazelnuts - 4.5 per cent, cherries - 0.7 per cent and strawberries - 3.6 per cent. The producer prices on cherry-plums increased by 5.7 per cent.

Production prices on livestock products increased by 0.3 per cent in May as a whole compared to the previous month, including beef and mutton (live weight) - 6.6 and 0.3 per cent respectively. Honey production was 2.4 per cent.

Production prices on cow's milk in May fell by 1.9 per cent, cows - 1.4 per cent, buffalo - two per cent, goats (up to one year) - 0.4 per cent, pork and poultry (live weight) - 5.8 and 2.3 per cent respectively, turkey - 8.9 per cent, eggs - 3,4 per cent.

In May the prices on fish and fish products decreased by 1.6 per cent.

Factual prices on the products of the agricultural and fishery sectors in Azerbaijan, thousand manat