Azerbaijan wants to buy highly productive, drought-resistant seeds for wheat, barley and other cereals from Turkiye, a source in the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry told Report.
It was noted that negotiations are underway with an Azerbaijani private company on the volume of wheat seeds to be purchased in this regard: “Thus, seed varieties purchased from Turkiye will be cultivated in Azerbaijan. Turkiye's grain varieties are more productive and more drought-resistant. If these varieties are adapted to the soil of Azerbaijan, then it is planned to plant them in larger areas.”
Azerbaijan buys wheat seeds mainly from Russia and Kazakhstan.
According to the State Statistical Committee, in 2021, Azerbaijan's demand for wheat seeds was 114,500 tons, with 77,000 tons met by local production and 6,500 tons by imports. This formed an additional need for about 31,000 seeds.
The shortage of barley seeds was even greater. Last year, the demand for it amounted to 67,300 tons, of which 24,700 tons were provided by local production and 1,600 tons by import. As a result, there is an additional need for 41,000 tons of seeds.