Review of agriculture in Azerbaijan (jan.-sept. 2012)

As of Oct. 1, 2012, Azerbaijan produced agricultural products worth 4.088.0 million manat, or 6.2 percent more than in January-September 2011.

In particular, the volume of crop production increased by 7.2 percent, livestock - by 5.1 percent.

Actual cost of agricultural production in Azerbaijan, thousand manat

source: Azerbaijani state statistics committee

Azerbaijan continues harvesting crops. As of early October, the volume of collected grains, except maize, exceeded 2.619 million tons from the 994,600 hectare-crop area. The yield per hectare an average hit 26.3 centners. Despite the grain collection in the region is under completion, maize collection is underway. Maize production reached 143,500 tons from 29,500 hectares subject to the collection. Taking into account the maize, grain and legume collection increased by 1.7 centners per 1 hectare and reached 2.762 million tons - a record level. Annual demand for food grains is about 1.6 million tons.

The farms also collected 948,100 tons of potatoes (2.7 percent more than last year), 1.136.9 million tons of vegetables (0.7 percent more), 424,500 tons of melons (10.5 percent less).

The average yield of potatoes per hectare increased by 2 quintals, vegetables - by 6 quintals and hit 146 and 150 quintals. The average yield of water melons and melons dropped by one quintal and hit 142 quintals.

As of October 1, cotton collection totaled 23,200 tons. This index increased by 35.3 percent compared to last year. Along with the cotton-growing, tobacco yield also increased. Thus, the increase in tobacco area by 6.5 percent boosted increasing the crops by 15.8 percent to 3,300 tons compared to the previous year.

Sugar beets were planted in an area of 3,612 hectares in 2012. As of early October, 333 quintals were collected from with each hectare and production of these products amounted to 46,700 tons.

Fruits crop increased by 10.3 percent, grapes - by 22.2 percent, and tea - by 21.4 percent this year compared to last year's data.

source: Azerbaijani state statistics committee

Azerbaijan continues fall-winter field work to get a crop for the following year. For this purpose, Around 529,900 hectares were plowed, which is 5.7 percent more than in the same period of last year. Sowing operations were conducted in an area of ​​39,100 hectares, of which wheat crop area - 15,500 hectares (share - 39.7 percent), barley - 23,600 hectares (60.3 percent).

The increase in livestock production was observed in Azerbaijan during nine months of 2012. According to the State Statistics Committee, around 345,000 tons of meat, 1,300 tons of milk, 906.4 million eggs and 15,900 tons of wool were produced in January-September 2012. The production of meat increased by 3.4 percent, milk - by 5.7 percent, eggs - 19.3 percent and wool - 1.2 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Production of main livestock products, thousand tons

source: Azerbaijani state statistics committee

In September the Azerbaijani Cabinet Ministers made the decision to exempt imported wheat, meslin, wheat and wheat-rye flour from the value added tax (VAT) for the period of one year. The decision was taken on the basis of the agreed proposal of the Economy Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Finance, Tax Ministry and the State Customs Committee. The decision takes effect from the date of signing - September 24, 2012. Sabir Veliyev, Head of the department for control over the production and processing of crop products of the Ministry said that the decision meets the interests of suppliers and consumers. "The government's action will allow preventing the growth of prices for flour and bread," Veliyev said. Around 2.5 million tons of grain were collected in 2011. The Ministry of Agriculture expects to collect at least 2.8 million tons.