Azerbaijan may stop grain imports

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture may stop grain imports since the country can meet the domestic demand for grain.

 

It is expected that grain production will reduce by 200,000-300,000 tonnes in Azerbaijan in 2010, according to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture department head Sabir Veliyev.

 

"Azerbaijan will collect about 2.7-2.8 million tonnes of grain in 2010 compared to a record three million tonnes in 2009," Veliyev said.

 

He said that this amount will be enough to fully meet the needs of Azerbaijan in food grains during the year. The Ministry of Agriculture is also not interested in increasing this volume.

 

The volume of grain production in the country should be ensured at the level of 2.8 million tonnes a year, but the record was broken last year.

 

Department head said that 147,000 hectares less than in 2009 were sowed, due to problems with sale of the local grain of the first class in 2010. It is sold at AZN0.10-0.12 (US$0.12-US$0.15) per kilogram.

 

Local bread manufacturers prefer to buy imported grain as raw materials at the price of AZN0.05-0.06 (US$0.06-US$0.07) per kg, despite the fact that these sorts of grain are 4-5 class quality," Veliyev said.

 

He considers it reasonable to prohibit the import of grain into the country, as today Azerbaijan can meet the domestic demand for grain.

 

The Cabinet of Ministers' report for 2009 said that 1,700 hectares were planted last year, of which 1,125 hectares were planted with grains and legumes, including corn, 111,700 acres - vegetables, 40,800 acres - technical plants, 360,400 hectares - fodder plants.

 

About 26.6 quintals of grain, or approximately three million tonnes in total were produced in each hectare of land last year. The main importers of grain to Azerbaijan are Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.