Baku: A meeting focused on agricultural issues took place under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, as reported by APA. The meeting, held on May 25, was aimed at discussing the development of agriculture, a sector that has consistently been a priority for the Azerbaijani government.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev stressed the importance of agriculture in Azerbaijan's regional development program initiated in 2004. This program has played a crucial role in revitalizing regions, increasing employment, and implementing major infrastructure projects, such as improving gas and electricity supply, road conditions, and water systems. These developments have significantly contributed to agricultural growth in the country.
President Aliyev acknowledged the progress made in various agricultural sectors, including cotton production and sericulture, through state support and reforms. He emphasized the importance of subsidies and concessional loans in supporting farmers and highlighted Azerbaijan's diverse subsidy mechanisms, which are among the most comprehensive globally. However, he noted that there is still room for improvement and announced the preparation of a new State Program for agricultural development.
The president addressed the challenges posed by global trends, such as wars, conflicts, and climate change, which have affected agricultural production. He highlighted the need for Azerbaijan to focus on food security and reverse the trend of urban migration by creating favorable conditions in rural areas to retain the population engaged in agriculture and traditional activities.
President Aliyev presented detailed statistics on Azerbaijan's self-sufficiency in various agricultural products, pointing out areas for improvement, particularly in wheat production. He called for increased investment from both the private sector and foreign investors to boost agricultural development and emphasized the need for flexible subsidy mechanisms.
The meeting also covered issues related to efficient land use, provision of agricultural machinery, and fertilizer production. President Aliyev outlined plans for expanding cold storage capacity and improving water supply infrastructure to support agricultural growth. He set targets for increasing productivity in grain and cotton production and encouraged investment in processing and exporting finished products rather than raw materials.
Finally, President Aliyev urged immediate action for the implementation of the new State Program, which aims to achieve 100 percent self-sufficiency in meat, milk, and poultry production. The program, covering 2026-2030, requires significant state and private sector investment, with more than 2 billion manats needed from the state and over 3 billion manats from the private sector.