Is drought, lack of water a problem or a pretext?

Recently, at the “Agricultural Insurance Umbrella Against Risks” forum held at Baku State University, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture, Majnun Mammadov, stated that the agricultural sector plays an important role in ensuring the country’s food security and that 80 percent of food consumption is covered by domestic production. I believe the minister should support with facts the claim that the agricultural sector truly occupies an important place in ensuring the country’s food security. He should also provide evidence for the statement that 80 percent of food consumption is supplied specifically through domestic production.

In recent days, the April issue of the “Export Review” published by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) reported that sugar exports in January–March of the current year increased by 4.5 times compared to the same period last year .

Caspian Agro Week, an agro-industrial exhibition week, has opened in the capital of Azerbaijan, going beyond the traditional format of an industry exhibition and transforming into a platform for discussing structural changes in agriculture and its role in the diversification of the economy.

According to data provided by the State Statistics Committee, 567.0 million eggs were produced in January–March 2026, which is 2.8% less compared to the corresponding period of 2025. However, the head of the Azerbaijan Poultry Meat, Egg Producers and Exporters Association stated in a press comment that “production has absolutely not decreased”