What can be done to turn risks into opportunities in the agrarian sector, which is struggling in a pandemic crisis?

According to information released by the State Customs Committee, Azerbaijan imported food products worth $2 billion 474 million 815 thousand in 2024. Compared to the previous year, the value of food imports increased by 14.5%. This marks the first time in Azerbaijan's history that the country has imported a record amount of food products. In terms of value, food imports have increased by 50.5% in the last 5 years and by 2.3 times in the last 10 years. It is also worth mentioning that food imports have increased in terms of physical weight.

Customs Committee data on butter exports do not align with the figures from the State Statistics Committee regarding cattle numbers and milk production in Azerbaijan. If domestic butter production and exports have increased significantly, this should be reflected in corresponding data on livestock growth and milk yields. However, Azerbaijan's State Statistics Committee provides entirely different numbers.

In Azerbaijan, the population has long suffered from a shortage of both drinking and irrigation water. Although the issue is frequently raised in the media, the problem remains unresolved.

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.