The State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan has published final data on the acreage allocated for spring crops this year, the total area of which (350.000 ha) has declined by 9.8% as compared to the last year.

This year, the acreage declined for nearly all agricultural plants. The only exceptions are rice (+42.6 ha or 1.4%), annual herbs (+106.8 ha or 9.4%) and tobacco (+456.8 ha or 18.8%).

This year, cotton was sown on 94,247 ha (decline of 9.6%), sugar beet - 4,535 ha (-9.3%) of the area.

Farmland of potatoes (49,475 ha) and vegetables (61,229 ha) declined by 9.7% and 6.3%, respectively. Sunflower crops (10,468 ha) declined by 11.6%, corn (30,086 ha) - by 6.1%. 31,781 ha have been allocated for spring grains and legumes, which is down by 4.3% from 2022.

Melon crops will be harvested from 17,239 ha this year, which is down by 14.3% from 2022 and sown on 16.900 ha, which is down by 15.4% from the beginning of June last year.

Note that the prospects for livestock breeders are not encouraging either. This year, perennial grasses have been sown on 45,615 ha. This is down by 19.2% from the last year.

It should be recalled that the Ministry of Agriculture has not so far commented on the reasons for reduction of acreage, taking into account the fact that Azerbaijan received additional acreage after de-occupation of land.

Source: Turan News Agency