President Ilham Aliyev: We need to positively assess the performance of large farms

Baku, July 14 (AzerTAc). “We need to positively assess the performance of large farms. As you know, we started, if I may say so, with a small project, the first project on 5 hectares. It is visible how productivity has increased there,” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has told a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socioeconomic development in the first half of 2014 and objectives for the future. The head of state noted: “According to the information provided here, the process of creating 19 large farms on an area of 30 hectares is currently under way. Eventually we will be able to increase productivity on the available lands and become self-sufficient in grain. Yield is equal to 56 quintals, but the national average is about 25-26 quintals. In other words, the productivity in the new farms is twice as high.” “There are most advanced technologies, machinery, fertilizer and agricultural services. We need to try to further apply this experience to small farms. Of course, in terms of the volume it will be different, but the approach should be similar. In essence, by creating large and modern farms we are setting a standard in our country. In the future, agricultural development in Azerbaijan should be based on the best international practices,” he added.