CBD Fourth National Report - Azerbaijan (English version)

Country Study on Biodiversity and Fourth National Report
The Republic of Azerbaijan
agrarian policy. Namely, additional land plot of 0.44 million ha was involved to agriculture of
the republic. There exist some improvements in irrigation of the lands, too. Increase of
irrigated lands appeared mainly in low-lying regions. However, share of countrywide dryfarming
is comprised by 30% of all arable lands that these lands are mainly situated in
mountainous and low-lying regions.
Quantity of soil reserve per family is various in regions of the republic because of the
population settlement. Despite this figure totalled to 0.85 ha in Lankaran-Astara region, but it
equals to 5.9 ha in Absheron region and to 2-3 ha plains (lowland region). Nevertheless
14.5% of rural population inhabited here, 19.7% of the soil is located in this area. Most
unsuitable lands are situated in Nakhichevan and Lankaran-Astara regions. Accordingly 7.4
and 12.5% population inhabited here, arable lands total to 3-5%.
36.0% (595.6 thousand ha) of countrywide farmings were brought together in Lowland
economic region. Also, Lowland economic region is comprised by 12.6% of farmings
remained under state ownership, 38.4% of farmings remained under municipality ownership
and 41.4% of farmings remained under private ownership. 6.5% of economic regions’
farmings are under state ownership, 5.7% under municipality ownership and 87.8% under
private ownership.
The following places are taken by Mountainous Garabagh, Ganja-Gazakh and Shaki-Zagatala
economic regions subject to quantity of total area of the arable lands. 34.3% of countrywide
farmings are located in these regions and remaining parts are in other economic regions.
First three places are taken by Nakhichevan (93.3%), Mountainous Shirvan (89.1%) and
Lowland (87.8%) economic regions subject to quantity of the arable lands used under private
ownership. This figure totals to 41.8% in Absheron.
In view of specific geographical situation of Absheron economic region, location of Baku and
Sumgayit cities in this region and development of industry, forms of arable lands are
distinctive as compared to other regions.
Perennial croppings take particular place among agricultural lands. The perennial croppings
cover gardens, vineyards, tea plantations, berries and other fields. There existed 158.5
thousand perennial plants and renascents in 2003 in the republic and area of them reached to
161.5 thousand ha by increasing 3.0 thousand ha within the past period (2008). 38.8% of
these lands are still under state ownership (including Mountainous Garabagh and occupied
regions), 2.83% under municipal ownership and 58.4% under private ownership. Subject to
total area of perennial croppings, Shaki-Zagatala (25.8%) and Guba-Khachmaz (17.4%)
economic regions are ahead actually.
72% of countrywide perennial croppings are comprised by Mountainous Garabagh together
with economic regions. However it is a pity that 70% of Mountainous Garabagh are under
occupation. 28.0% of perennial arable fields involves the remaining 7 economic regions.
93.1% of perennial farmings in Guba-Khachmaz economic regions are under private
ownership presently. 40.0% of countrywide perennial croppings are comprised by gardens.
48% of gardens on overall property forms are located in Shaki-Zagatala and 39.0% in Guba-
Khachmaz economic regions.
Nevertheless total area of noncropped lands equalled to 53.0 thousand ha in 2003, this figure
totalled to 41.76 thousand ha by decreasing as 11.24 thousand ha in 2008. 34.6% of these
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2009