Manufacturers See Threat in Import of Eggs from Ukraine

For the first time in many years, Azerbaijan has begun to import eggs. According to the chairman of the Republican Poultry Farmers Society Aydin Veliyev eggs imported from Ukraine are sold in agricultural fairs in the western region of the country and are a real threat to the interests of domestic producers.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in 2014 the egg production in Azerbaijan increased by 11.5% and amounted to 1 billion 562,700,000. Of these, 703 300 000 eggs accounted for poultry farms, and the rest was produced by the household. At the same time poultry farms have increased productivity by 25%.

Azerbaijan imports pedigree eggs from Turkey, Iran, Georgia and Europe (Czech Republic, Netherlands, and Slovakia). At the same time, Turkey supplies 83% of the deliveries. Last year, the total purchases of pedigree eggs for broiler and poultry farms totaled 54.7 million, which is 18.4% more than the purchase of the previous year.

Last year, the largest producer of chicken in Azerbaijan, Siyayan Broiler liquidated its own breeding farm for security reasons in the production of meat. At present, the demand for pedigree eggs in the country is met by 40-50% due to local production by the companies Araz, Nazar, Zira, etc.

According to the SSC, in 2013 per capita consumption of eggs in Azerbaijan amounted to 155.2 units. For the needs of incubation 90-100 million eggs are used. -----08B