The reasons for price differences in the capital and provinces...

"In the latest communication from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Turan agency, it was clarified that price regulation falls outside the ministry's jurisdiction, and thus, the organization is not authorized to engage in such activities. Instead, prices in the market are determined by the fundamental law of supply and demand.

The Ministry also highlighted the recurrent weekend fair known as "from village to City," which takes place in Baku. The primary objective of these fairs is to establish an alternative sales channel for local farmers and to ensure urban residents have access to natural, seasonal, and healthy rural products. Notably, farmers participate in these fairs without any charges and are provided with necessary equipment such as counters, scales, and refrigerators. Moreover, farmers facing transportation difficulties receive logistical support, with their products being transported directly from their farms to the fair location.

Mazahir Efendiyev, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship, also shared with Turan his opinion that products grown by farmers in rural areas are sold at significantly lower prices compared to significantly higher prices in Baku. This issue has been a subject of parliamentary discussions and has remained relevant since the previous year. During these discussions, it was revealed that certain brokerage companies purchase products from villagers at very low prices, sort and store them in refrigerators, and subsequently arrange transportation to Baku, incurring additional costs that contribute to price increases.

According to Efendiyev, there is a pressing need for a regulatory mechanism in this domain to ensure that goods from villages are not subjected to exorbitant prices when they reach city markets. He emphasizes the necessity of identifying where the major cost increments occur and implementing measures to address any discrepancies.

The Ministry also highlighted the recurrent weekend fair known as "from village to City," which takes place in Baku. The primary objective of these fairs is to establish an alternative sales channel for local farmers and to ensure urban residents have access to natural, seasonal, and healthy rural products. Notably, farmers participate in these fairs without any charges and are provided with necessary equipment such as counters, scales, and refrigerators. Moreover, farmers facing transportation difficulties receive logistical support, with their products being transported directly from their farms to the fair location.

Mazahir Efendiyev, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, industry, and entrepreneurship, also shared his agreement with the observation that products grown by farmers in rural areas are sold at considerably lower prices compared to the significantly higher prices in Baku. This issue has been a subject of parliamentary discussions and has remained relevant since the previous year. During these discussions, it was revealed that certain brokerage companies purchase products from villagers at very low prices, sort and store them in refrigerators, and subsequently arrange transportation to Baku, incurring additional costs that contribute to price increases.

According to Efendiyev, there is a pressing need for a regulatory mechanism in this domain to ensure that goods from villages are not subjected to exorbitant prices when they reach city markets. He emphasizes the necessity of identifying where the major cost increments occur and implementing measures to address any discrepancies.

Agricultural products expert Vahid Maharramov told Radio Azadlig about the problems faced by farmers trying to bring their products to larger markets, given the presence of a dominant wholesale market in the country.This wholesale market plays a pivotal role in determining prices and distributing products to various supermarkets and retail points. To break the existing monopoly, Maharramov advocates for the establishment of at least three wholesale markets in Baku to promote competition.

In the prevailing circumstances, the expert suggests that the government should take on the responsibility of transporting farmers' products from villages to cities and facilitate their sale in densely populated areas. He even proposes that the government might subsidize some of the costs involved. This approach would enable farmers to generate income and encourage continued production, as the current situation leads to losses when products remain unsold and deteriorate due to lack of demand."

In the prevailing circumstances, the expert suggests that the government should take on the responsibility of transporting farmers' products from villages to cities and facilitate their sale in densely populated areas. He even proposes that the government might subsidize some of the costs involved. This approach would enable farmers to generate income and encourage continued production, as the current situation leads to losses when products remain unsold and deteriorate due to lack of demand."