Rice harvesting to be enhanced by 2025
TIn accordance with the program, the area of rice planting is planned to be increased to 10,000 hectares, and the productivity – up to 40 centners per hectare.
The program says that in 2016, the planting area of rice was 2,500 hectares and the harvesting amounted to 5,600 tons in the country. In 2017, the sown area was increased up to 5,100 hectares, and harvesting – up to 15,900 tons. The productivity totaled 31.1 centners per hectare.
Meanwhile, the annual demand for this product is currently more than 40,000 tons, which is mainly covered by imports.
President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order approving the State Program for Development of Rice Growing in 2018-2025 on February 10.
According to the order, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy have been instructed to take the necessary measures every year during formation of state budget and state investment programs in order to take account of the funds for financing the events envisaged in the approved state program.
The Ministry of Agriculture has been instructed to coordinate the implementation of the events envisaged in the state program and to inform the Azerbaijani president about the state program’s implementation once in a year.
In recent years, rice growing in Azerbaijan is developing at a rapid pace. If a few years ago rice growing was considered a labor-intensive industry, the villagers had great difficulties in sowing and harvesting, today it is fully mechanized. New technologies used in rice growing make this industry attractive and profitable. A large number of harvesting and sowing equipment are brought to the regions where rice growing is reviving.
This industry has always been a traditional economic sphere for southern regions of Azerbaijan.
Rice is a moisture-loving plant. Consequently, there should not be a deficit in water in the areas where it is grown. In the regions of Azerbaijan there are many wetlands that can be used for the development of this industry, especially the southern regions such as Lankaran and Astara.