March 19, 2010

Azerbaijan expects no problems with grain production

Azerbaijan expects a grain production of 45-60 centners per hectare in some parts of the country this year.

Agriculture Minister Ismat Abbasov said the growth in yield was the result of technical improvements and the import of high quality wheat seeds.

"The average yield throughout the country is predicted to be 27-28 centners. Therefore, this year Azerbaijan will have no problems with grain production," he said.

The minister said that it was difficult to give an accurate forecast for production, as so much depended on the weather.

As of 1 January 2010, 2,988,300 tonnes of grain had been harvested from 1,125.4 hectares. The average yield was 26.6 centners per hectare, a 19.6% growth on 2008. Wheat accounted for 71.7% of the harvest, or 2,141,400 tonnes.