Azerbaijan to direct 40% of agricultural support to livestock sector

Azerbaijan plans to encourage the transition from extensive to intensive farming, expand the use of modern irrigation technologies and significantly increase state support for the livestock sector under a new state program.

Report's correspondent dispatched to Zangilan informs that Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov said this in a statement to journalists during a meeting on the State Program for the Development of Production and Processing of Agricultural, Fishery and Aquaculture Products in Azerbaijan for 2026–2030.

According to him, one of the key innovations of the program is the implementation of new approaches aimed at increasing productivity in the agricultural sector.

"The program envisages expanding modern irrigation areas, implementing land consolidation projects in Azerbaijan for the first time, and developing intensive horticulture and greenhouse farming. Fundamental changes are also expected in state support mechanisms. Recently, only 6% of subsidies have been allocated directly to livestock, 20% to equipment supply and 74% to crop production.

Under the new State Program, about 40% of the support to be allocated is expected to be directed to the livestock sector. In addition, new support tools such as output subsidies and milk subsidies will be introduced," he said.

Mammadov believes the new approach will also help stimulate the supply of products to the processing industry.

"The program is mainly designed to support small and medium-sized farms. It is planned to provide assistance to livestock farms with at least 50 animals, as well as to establish milk and wool collection points. This infrastructure will help collect products from small farmers and expand their market opportunities. Starting this year, output subsidies are planned for apple and pomegranate producers, and from next year for farmers growing other fruits and crops. This mechanism will allow farmers to deliver products that they have difficulty selling or that remain unsold to processing enterprises. At the same time, they will be able to receive subsidies for those products," the minister said.