Ilham Aliyev: Cotton production rose from 20,000 to 360,000 tons thanks to state support

Subsidies are of great importance for the development of agriculture, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said today at a meeting dedicated to agricultural issues.

President noted that Azerbaijan is among the few countries in the world applying broad and diversified subsidy mechanisms:

"Naturally, there is still room for improvement, and this must be addressed. This issue will also be discussed today. Various concessions are provided, including discounts on fertilizers and fuel. I can say that such measures are implemented only in a limited number of countries worldwide. Methodological recommendations and all kinds of support are provided to farmers, including concessional loans."

Ilham Aliyev stressed that many projects implemented through state channels have naturally given a major impetus to agricultural development:

"For example, if we look at cotton production, although it increased year after year in Azerbaijan during the 1970s and 1980s, later, for various reasons, this sector was nearly lost. Productivity had fallen to a very low level - approximately a maximum of one ton per hectare, or 10 centners in the old terminology. Cotton production in Azerbaijan had declined to 20,000 tons. However, as a result of the measures taken and reforms implemented over the years, both productivity and overall production have significantly increased. According to the latest figures, more than 360,000 tons of cotton have been produced, bringing tremendous benefits to people living in rural areas specializing in cotton cultivation."