Expert: Azerbaijan to crop minimum of 200,000 tons of harvest from liberated lands

“The liberation of the occupied lands, the ongoing construction work in Karabakh create new opportunities for companies specializing in agriculture. Companies that specialize in both the agricultural and livestock sectors are already working on new plans and making calculations,” the director of the Center for Agricultural Research, Firdovsi Fikratzada, told Report.

“Based on the land balance data, it is predicted that after the restoration of agriculture in the territories liberated from the occupation, more than 200,000 hectares of areas will be used as arable land. Of these, about 9,000 hectares are household lands,” he said.

In an interview with local TV channels, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev raised the issue of the suitability of the lands freed from occupation for agriculture. According to F. Fikratzada, the liberated lands will make a significant contribution to Azerbaijan’s agriculture.

“There is no doubt that we will receive at least about 200,000 tons of crops from these territories. These cereal products are also important for providing animal feed. The territories are also of great importance from the point of view of the development of animal husbandry. Thanks to this, our indicators of supplying the country with meat and milk will significantly increase. As the president of the country noted, at present we can provide ourselves with milk by 82-85%, beef by 90%. Thanks to these territories, the figure will reach 100%.”

In his speech, the president also touched upon the issue of leasing fertile lands suitable for grain growing in other countries, growing crops on them, and importing them to Azerbaijan. Firdovsi Fikratzada believes that agricultural resources in our country are below world standards.

“Therefore, this appeal of the president should be highly appreciated. We have companies, holdings specializing in agriculture. They have the potential to apply modern technologies to crops on tens of thousands of hectares. They are also supported by the state. We want the activities of these companies to be supported in other countries as well. That is, even if we rent land abroad, let it be products belonging to our local entrepreneurs. This is considered a normal practice. I believe that in the near future we will receive information about companies that have responded to this appeal”.