In Goranboy region, farmers seek to get good cotton crop this year and gain huge benefits from revival of the cotton industry.
The new interest in cotton growing appeared following the world oil prices drop, which has forced Azerbaijan to diversify its hydrocarbon-based economy. The cotton industry was largely neglected during the oil-and-gas boom in the early 2000s; the 35,000 tons produced in 2015 is down from annual figures of 130,000-150,000 tons in the mid-2000s.
Currently, cotton is grown in more than 20 regions of Azerbaijan with a 10-time increase in just two years. In 2015, cotton was sown only on 17,000 hectares, while this year the area has reached 136,000 hectares.
In 2017, the sown area of cotton in Goranboy increased up to 5,000 hectares, which was only 2,000 hectares in 2016.
Goranboy Region Executive Power told Azertac that so far, there was signed an agreement with "MKT İstehsal Kommersiya" LLC for sowing cotton on 1,620 hectares, with "CTS Aqro" LLC on 2,500 hectares, Goran Cotton” MMC on 836 hectares, with “Yevlax” MMC on 44 hectares.
Farmers have made the necessary preparatory work for the optimum harvest of the crop. Also, the implementation of all agro-technical measures for cotton cultivation in the region is regularly monitored by the headquarters of the region executive.
The State Program for 2017-2022 is aimed at strengthening measures directed at developing this sphere. The purpose of the State Program is to develop cotton growing, increase export potential in this sphere, ensure employment of the rural population and increase the production of cotton.
The purpose of the State Program is to develop cotton growing in Azerbaijan, increase export potential in this sphere, ensure employment of the rural population and increase the production of cotton to 500,000 tons in 2022.
The new goal of the state is to bring the cotton production up to 500,000 tons by 2022 from the current 260,000 tons.
azernews.az