Ilhama Gadimova: Azerbaijan's state program aimed at creating competitive agricultural sector

Azerbaijan's State Program for the Development of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Production and Processing for 2026-2030 envisions the creation of a sustainable agricultural sector with high added value, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilhama Gadimova said at a regional meeting on the Mil-Mugan economic region, held as part of the State Program, Report informs.

"The fundamental philosophy of the State Program is crystal clear: to create a more productive, more sustainable, and more competitive agricultural sector that creates higher added value. Maximizing productivity is one of the key challenges facing the agricultural sector today. The goal here is not simply to expand cultivated areas, but to obtain more and higher-quality produce per hectare through more efficient use of available land and water resources," she noted.

According to her, the program encompasses five goals, five priority areas, 16 areas of activity, 86 events, and 23 target indicators: "This demonstrates that the document is not limited to a general approach, but represents a comprehensive development program based on specific goals, implementation mechanisms, and performance indicators."

According to Gadimova, the State Program defines a number of fundamental areas: "These include expanding intensive horticulture, increasing wheat and cotton yields, expanding the use of modern irrigation systems, developing agroparks and greenhouses, creating small wineries, and increasing the number of intensive livestock farms."