Azerbaijani farmers intend to reduce the area under potatoes due to problems with their storage, marketing and export. This was stated by agricultural producers from the Jalilabad region, who plan to reduce crop plantings from 6 thousand to 3 thousand hectares in the new season.
The Association of Vegetable and Fruit Producers and Exporters of the Republic voiced several reasons for this decision. This is primarily due to unfavorable weather conditions, which contribute to the development of various crop diseases. As a result, its yield decreases and farmers suffer serious losses.
Also, varieties are selected incorrectly, and cheap imported seed material of unknown origin is used. Manufacturers who rely on certified seeds cannot compete with colleagues who sell their goods at bargain prices.
It is also worth considering that Jalilabad and other potato-growing regions previously sent a significant share of the crop to Russia. But last year, the volume of exports decreased noticeably, including due to record potato harvests in our country. In addition, many farmers cannot supply their products to the Russian market due to expensive logistics.
In 2023, Azerbaijan produced 1,01 million tons of potatoes, which is 5,9% less than in 2022. The country imported 172,7 thousand tons of tubers worth $49,2 thousand. Exports for the same time amounted to 71,2 thousand tons, or 30,9 thousand dollars in monetary terms.
The head of the Center for Agricultural Research of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Firdovsi Fikretzadeh, said that the area under young potatoes today remains at the level of last year. But local farmers have not yet made a final decision on the scale of the main planting of the crop, which should start at the end of March.
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