Minister: Azerbaijan has potential to replace quarter of imported products

Azerbaijan has the potential to fully substitute 25% of imported products, Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov said at a meeting on agricultural issues chaired by President Ilham Aliyev, Report informs.

"We can achieve 100% domestic production of these products and import substitution. We have the potential for partial substitution for approximately 50% of products. Local production will be present, but a certain dependence on imports will remain. We will always import 25% of products. These include soybeans, palm oil, bananas, cocoa, and coffee," the minister emphasized.

Mammadov noted that global events and disruptions in supply chains have led to rising prices for inputs, which has reduced the nominally growing state support in real terms.

"Until recently, the bulk of state support funds was directed toward crop production-74% went to crop production, 20% to equipment support, and only 6% to livestock farming. Moreover, state support to date has been primarily socially oriented-aimed at regional development, increasing employment, and ensuring food security. At the same time, state support also serves to increase crop yields, farmer incomes, processing, and exports, and this focus should be strengthened," the minister said.