It is important to take farmers' proposals into account when improving the legal framework in the agricultural sector.
Report's correspondent dispatched to Azerbaijan's Aghdash district informs that local farmer Ziyaddin Saftarov said this in a statement to journalists while commenting on the results of a regional meeting held to discuss the State Program for the Development of Production and Processing of Agricultural, Fishery and Aquaculture Products in Azerbaijan for 2026–2030.
"The head of state has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to improve the legal framework within three months. It would be better if farmers were also contacted in this process and their proposals were included. There are currently a number of challenges related to processing. This applies to cotton growing, grain farming and rice cultivation. For example, rice is one of Aghdash's key strategic products. However, there are certain problems in processing paddy into rice, as well as in its future packaging and sale. We face the same challenges in the processing of wool and leather," he said.
The farmer believes that the adoption of the State Program stems from such challenges and is aimed at addressing them fundamentally in the short term.
"As farmers, we will work to increase productivity in order to achieve the goals ahead and will do our best to ensure the intensive development of agriculture. Speaking specifically about my own farm, we will use our capabilities to increase the average yield of grain fields from 30–35 centners to 50 centners by maintaining the existing area and increasing productivity, rather than expanding the cultivated area. We will also seek state support in this regard. This will help ensure food security in the country, increase the production of wheat, which is a strategic product, and raise the level of wheat supply in the country," he said.