Inefficient business is stimulated in the country

In the quiet rice fields of Lankaran, where farmers wade through flooded paddies, the challenges of Azerbaijan’s rice industry become evident. Despite government efforts to boost domestic production, the country remains deeply reliant on foreign suppliers, with imports soaring to record levels in recent years.

According to the information published by the State Customs Committee, our calculations indicate that in 2024, compared to the previous year, the import value of feed products increased by 14.5%, including a 30.6% increase in the import of animal products.

According to the State Statistical Committee, in 2024, Azerbaijan produced 1,685.7 thousand tons of wheat. The Committee also noted that last year, the productivity of wheat was 30.9 quintals.

According to the report published recently by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the FAO Food Price Index for 2024 is 2.1 percent lower than the 2023 figure and 20.7 percent below the peak recorded in March 2022.