In his speech at the consultative meeting dedicated to agricultural issues, the President of Azerbaijan announced strategic goals regarding the development of the agrarian sector. On the very same day, the State Program for 2026–2030 on the Development of the Production and Processing Sectors of Agricultural, Fishery, and Aquaculture Products in the Republic of Azerbaijan was approved by the President.
Which agricultural products' prices might decrease as a result of the implementation of the State Program?
The announcement of measurable target indicators in the program demonstrates a clear strategic approach to the development of agriculture in Azerbaijan over the next five years. The goal is to quadruple the volume of exports of agricultural, fishery, and processed products by 2030, reaching 6 billion dollars. This indicates that significant increases in Azerbaijan’s non-oil and gas exports are expected in the coming years. The growth of the gross domestic product created in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries is targeted at around 2 percent.
Sub-target indicators specify increase percentages for particular product types. By 2030, a minimum 20 percent increase in beef production, 9 percent increase in lamb production, and 30 percent increase in poultry production are targeted. Achieving this goal will not only reduce meat imports but may also optimize the price of meat and cause a decrease in prices for certain products.
Increasing the area of greenhouse complexes from 1500 hectares to 2000 hectares will allow agricultural products to be stored for the period after the season. This is one of the important tools to prevent price increases in the off-season period.
The volume of wheat production, considered a strategic product for Azerbaijan, is also targeted to increase by 20 percent across the country. This could lead to the optimization of bread prices and minimize import inflation. As the President of Azerbaijan stated at the consultative meeting dedicated to agricultural issues, reducing imports is one of the primary priorities in this sector.
The implementation of the State Program, whose main objectives are to ensure sustainable and competitive development of the agrarian sector, strengthen food security, increase domestic production potential, enhance productivity, added value, and export orientation, and develop innovation, digitalization, human capital, as well as the development of fishery and aquaculture sectors, could result in the optimization of agricultural product prices in Azerbaijan.
Vuqar Bayramov,
Economist-Deputy