Azerbaijan grain production to drop this year

Grain production is seen to drop 15% and this is associated with the reduction of grain areas last year and the unstable weather conditions, said Agricultural Minister Ismet Abbasov.

 

The decline is mostly observed on wheat fields. According to Abbasov, the damage is caused to sowing areas and pastures of 60,000 hectares as a result of flooding at Kur and Araz rivers. ''Of them, grain makes up over 26,000 hectares, clover fields 22,800 hectares, and the rest are potato, melon, sugar beet and others,'' said Abbasov.

 

According to the minister, the size of the caused damage is currently being defined. ''The compensations are issued by the government. The compensations will be issued by the Ministry of Emergency Situations,'' he said.

 

The minister has not agreed with views about the growth in prices on some melons and vegetables caused by floods. The minister considers that prices have dropped to some extent. He noted that the current prices for melons and vegetables are not higher than the prices in 2009.