Azerbaijan: to forecast 20 percent growth of grain production

Baku / AZ. (ami) The Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan forecasts growth of grain production in 2009 by 20 percent compared to 2008, reported the Minister of agriculture, Ismet Abbasov, within the governmental session on social-economic results of the first half-year of 2009. Total area planted with grains for harvest in 2009 increased by 24,9 percent to 1,08 million hectare, including 810’700 hectare of wheat. Total production volume of grains this year is expected at three million tonnes, up 0,5 million tonnes from 2008. At that, wheat harvest is estimated at 2,2 million tonnes that will cover domestic needs. At the same time, as of July, 20, 2009, agrarians have harvested 2,56 million tonnes of grains, including 1,9 million tonnes of wheat (source: agrimarket.info).