Potato Production Increased Due to Yields

The picking of potato crop has finished in Azerbaijan. This vegetable is very popular here, comparable only with fruits and berries.

According to the State Statistics Committee, this year the crop was 827.6 thousand tons of potatoes, which is 1% more than in 2014. Productivity from 1 ha was 136 quintals, 3 quintals more than last year. The area reserved for potatoes this year (61 thousand ha) decreased by 0.7 thousand ha.

According to estimates from SSC, in 2014 consumption of potatoes per capita in Azerbaijan amounted to 71.28 kg. This is 11% higher than the previous year.

However, according to the same official source, in 2014 the population consumed 683,000 tons of potatoes, which is 9,000 tons less than in 2013.

SSC citing government sources noted that in 2014 the volume of imports of potatoes doubled to 143,634 tons, although the State Customs Committee reported earlier on importing 129,445 tons of seed and food potatoes. Clarification was made according to the State Plant Sanitation Service of the Ministry of Agriculture.

It is noteworthy that the government in food balance sheets gives a figure in excess of 0.5 million tons of potatoes rolling from year to year. However, in the winter period due to the shortage, the potato price is $ 1.2-1.5 per 1 kg, up by about 30%. -----08B