Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Some 40-50 private grain farms will be established in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Economic Development said on July 23.

"In accordance with the instructions of the head of state, measures are being taken to establish 40-50 more grain farms, which is of great importance to fully provide food security in the country," the ministry said.

Wheat harvesting in the first privately owned pilot grain farms has been completed in the Aghjabadi and Beylagan regions.

​​1,875 hectares yielded more than 10,000 tons of high-quality wheat, which means a record high yield of 55 centners of grain per hectare.

Most of the collected product will be handed over to the State Grain Fund, while the rest will remain at the disposal of the farms.

Growth was reported in agricultural production in the first six months of 2013. Agricultural production in real prices amounted to 2.123 million manats (over $2.7 million) in January-June, increasing by 4.9 percent as compared to the same period of 2012, the State Statistics Committee said.

Crop production grew by 4.5 percent, while livestock output increased 5.1 percent.

Spring field works in Azerbaijan almost finished in June, and by June 24 sowing of spring crops in an area of ​​363,100 hectares had been carried out, which is 2.9 percent less than in the same period of 2012.

Potatoes were planted in an area of ​​65,300 hectares, while vegetables in 77,200 hectares, grain and leguminous crops in 71,800 hectares, melons and gourds in 28,500 hectares, cotton in 23,400 hectares, sunflowers for animal feed in 9,300 hectares, sugar beets in 5,500 hectares, and perennial herbs in 73,500 hectares.

Grain and leguminous crops, including corn, held 19.8 percent of the total sown area, while technical plants occupied 10.9 percent, potatoes, vegetables and melons and gourds 47.1 percent and fodder plants 21.1 percent.

Some 343,000 tons of vegetables, 274,900 tons of potatoes, 80,300 tons of fruits and berries were produced in enterprises.

The country produced 221,500 tons of meat in live weight, 913,000 tons of milk, 685.4 million eggs, and 15 tons of wool.

In the first half of 2013 meat production rose by 3.2 percent, while that of milk by 6.6 percent, eggs by 14.2 percent, and wool 2.6 percent.