Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2009 - Azerbaijan Export ...

Agriculture
Production of Azerbaijani agriculture
Azerbaijan is one of the world’s oldest agricultural centres. The
country’s climatic diversity allows a very broad range of crops to be
cultivated. At the moment agriculture accounts for approximately
12% of domestic product.
The sector is growing rapidly. The annual average growth since
2000 in the sector has been 10.0 %, i.e. one of the highest
sustained growth rates registered. Agriculture and related sectors
are the principle employers in the country.
The reforms in the agricultural sector of the economy continue, and
despite substantial decline in the early years of transition,
agriculture in Azerbaijan is now firmly on the way to rehabilitation
and growth.
Following almost full denationalization of the sector (at the moment
circa 99% of the sector is in private ownership) a number of steps
were taken by the government to support the farmers as well as
producers of processed a/c products.
In addition to meeting most of domestic demand with high quality
products, the country’s agricultural producers are traditional
suppliers to a number of large regional markets. The most
substantial one is the market of the former Soviet Union
(including Russia).
Azerbaijani fruits, vegetables, wines and brandy have become
brands of Azerbaijan in the region. Azerbaijan has achieved a
record harvest of cereals in 2009’s 3 mln tons. Apart from food
products Azerbaijan is also traditionally strong in cultivating such
nonfood crops and products as cotton, silk and tobacco. The sector
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