The modern pace of development and perspectives of horticulture in Azerbaijan

Abstract

The Republic of Azerbaijan has all the conditions, both natural and socio-economic, for the development of horticulture. Over the last decade, the gross harvest of vegetables has been growing steadily. By 2018, it was 1522 thousand tons. The yield of vegetables has also grown in the indicated period from 14.7 to 21.9 t/ha. Vegetables occupy 4800 ha of a protected ground. The production of greenhouse vegetables targets the Russian market. The bottleneck of this sector is the breeding of vegetable seeds. This market, with a capacity of almost 20 million Euro, is occupied by foreign companies. At the same time, agricultural producers get help from the state in the form of subsidies, preferential credits, and full tax exemption. The research in the sector is also developing. We can note such possible developments as the renovation and outfitting of the Research Institute for Horticulture as well as the training of horticulturists in the Azerbaijan State Agricultural University. The further development of the sector continues in the way of the intensification and biologization of production, the improvement of the range and quality of products.