Regional meetings held in various cities and districts of Azerbaijan since June 12 to discuss the "State Program for the Development of Production and Processing of Agricultural, Fishery and Aquaculture Products for 2026–2030," approved by President Ilham Aliyev's order dated May 25, 2026, concluded today.
Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov, who attended most of the meetings, gave Report a brief interview about the current problems in the agricultural sector of the country and the steps to be taken to address them.
- Mr. Minister, agricultural producers also took part in the meetings and raised their concerns. What do you see as the main obstacles to growth in the agricultural sector?
- The measures envisaged under the State Program are aimed at eliminating the risks arising from existing challenges in agriculture. Issues related to land consolidation, improved irrigation and increased productivity have been identified as priority areas in the country. Agriculture is one of the sectors sensitive to climate change, and the State Program also provides for important measures in this direction.
The main measures include the introduction of modern irrigation systems, the use of certified seeds, the application of laser land leveling in cultivated areas and the development of intensive horticulture. These measures will help both address existing problems and increase farmers' incomes.
In addition, the State Program provides for the implementation of pilot projects on land consolidation. These projects will help merge fragmented land plots, improve farmers' access to land and establish irrigation and drainage infrastructure.
- State programs on various areas of agriculture have been adopted before. How will the approach to implementing the new State Program differ from the previous ones?
- Previous state programs mainly covered individual areas. For example, state programs were implemented for the development of sericulture, hazelnut growing and cotton growing, and each of them made an important contribution to the development of the relevant sectors.
In this regard, the new State Program is built on the foundation formed by previous programs. One of its main differences from earlier programs is that it covers the agricultural sector as a whole. The program combines both crop production and livestock farming, while also covering important issues such as improving resource provision, financial mechanisms, and water and land infrastructure.
From this point of view, the new State Program is more comprehensive and systematic than previous programs. At the same time, it is a document focused on specific targets, covering a short-term period and providing for the solution of fundamental problems during that period.
- The successful implementation of the program also depends on the approach of local executive authorities to the agricultural sector. How will the ministry build its work with them from now on?
- Task forces are planned to be established in the regions and in each district to ensure the effective implementation of the State Program. Employees of regional and local government bodies will be represented there.
The goal is to achieve, in all regions, both the targets set out in the State Program and the goals defined by the president. We will work closely with local executive authorities in this direction and seek to ensure the implementation of our responsibilities on the ground through their coordination.
The role of local executive authorities is of particular importance in this process, because the direct organization and support of entrepreneurship, as well as the activities of local farmers and investors in the regions, are carried out through these structures. Therefore, the participation and coordination function of executive authorities is extremely important in terms of properly organizing work on the ground.