Azerbaijan's agriculture minister discloses amount of loans issued to ensure country's food security

Under the State Program on Azerbaijan's Reliable Food Supply in 2008-2015, in the fourth quarter of last year and the first half of this year, 775,000 manat was provided from all sources to six legal entities and individuals for the development of greenhouses aimed at vegetable production, Azerbaijan's Agriculture Minister Ismat Abbasov said an interview posted in the official press on August 25.

"Also 1.44 million manat was provided to 22 farmers to resume and plant new fruit farms and promote fruit exports," the minister said.

He said 4.8 million manat was allocated to 71 people for livestock development for the production of meat. In the surrounding villages of Baku, 650,000 manat was provided for the development and intensive farming of beef, milk production, also 1.47 million manat was allocated to 12 farmers to set up and develop modern competitive poultry farms.

The minister also noted that eight individuals received 552,000 manat for the development of lake fisheries, four people - 121,000 manat for the development of beekeeping.

"All funds have been allocated to farmers and people involved in various branches of agriculture on preferential terms and for a long term," said the minister.

Abbasov said in an effort to increase agricultural production, prevent migration of rural populations, 9.222 million manat micro-loans were granted to 5,440 people for the development of livestock and 763,000 manat to 677 farmers for plant growing.

For the first time, the 2009 Public budget issued 60 million manat to finance activities related to food security in Azerbaijan. The public budget also allocated 10 million manat for agricultural lending.

/Trend Capital/