Minister: ‘ Government provides all necessary assistance to farmers’

The increase in grain yield in Azerbaijan to an average of 35 quintals per hectare will completely meet the country's demand for these products, Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Ismet Abasov said on Thursday at a zonal meeting in Gobustan, dedicated to the organization of seed growing and the experience of growing new varieties of grain.

"Last year, the average yield of 950,200 hectares was 25.2 quintals, but we can not confine ourselves to this," the minister said. "If the most necessary 17-18 farming activities out of 50 are implemented, the yield of grain will exceed 35 quintals. For this not only enterprises engaged in grain farming, but also each landowner should do their best."

According to the minister, today one of the main objectives is to increase agricultural production through the efficient use of land. For this purpose, it's necessary to create new varieties resistant to biotic and abiotic factors, to carry out sustainable work for the organization and distribution of their seed growing.

"It's also necessary to use in the production process the most efficient agricultural machinery, a system of fertilizers and plant protection products," Abasov said.

At present, he said, in Bilasuvar, as well as in several other regions, some farmers per hectare receive an average of 52-53 quintals.

"Everyone should think over it. It is known that in this area, the Government provides all the necessary assistance, but many show a primitive carefree attitude to grain farming," the Minister said.

The meeting gave detailed information about the productive varieties of grain and the prospects for their breeding. For the second year, Gobustan wheat variety is widely used, which along with high quality is resistant to drought and disease. The sown area of this wheat variety in the country reaches 15,000 hectares.

The meeting also discussed the prospects of increasing the production of buckwheat, which is in high demand in the markets. And for better pollination of this plant the reasonability of its development together with bee-keeping farms was noted.


/Trend/