BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Small, fragmented
land plots create difficulties for most Azerbaijani farmers, whose
average cultivated area is up to three hectares, Anar Jafarov, head
of the Agricultural Innovation Center, said during a panel
discussion at the 3rd International Agro Business Forum in Baku on
Thursday, Trend’s
correspondent reports from the event.
He said land fragmentation was among the most frequently raised
issues by farmers and one that regularly came up in public
discussions. Small plots make purchasing and operating large
agricultural machinery economically unviable for farmers.
“Our land plots are small. It is not profitable for farmers to
buy and operate large agricultural machinery. This creates certain
difficulties,” Jafarov said.
The head of the center noted that a newly adopted state program
provides for the development of agricultural cooperatives and
additional support for this area to address these challenges.
According to him, pilot projects will initially be implemented in
Salyan and Gabala.
Jafarov also highlighted access to financing as another major
concern for farmers. He said new financial mechanisms envisage
channeling funds into agriculture not only from the state budget
but also from commercial banks’ own resources.
Under the interest subsidy mechanism, the state covers interest
costs of up to 19% on loans taken out by farmers, he said. The
support is intended to expand farmers’ access to additional
financing.
