“The issue of efficient land use: the goal here is to maximize productivity and conduct a precise analysis of lands to determine which product might be more appropriate to cultivate in which area and on which plot of land,” President Ilham Aliyev made these remarks during a meeting dedicated to agricultural issues, APA reports.
“Naturally, zoning issues are very important here. However, I know that in some cases, soil quality varies across different land plots even within a single district. Therefore, saying that only this specific product should be cultivated in a certain district, and no other product should be grown, would be incorrect. Naturally, when a precise analysis is conducted for each plot, its digital version, various verification methods, and the use of new technologies must be applied—including artificial intelligence, satellite capabilities, and field research. The territory of the country is not that large; therefore, accomplishing this will not be difficult. Certain work has been done, however, every plot of land suitable for cultivation must have, so to speak, its own passport. First of all, it must show which product will bring the farmer more profit if cultivated there. Secondly, this must form the basis of our overall agricultural development and export strategy. Exports are naturally dependent on markets. There are traditional markets, and there are new ones. Therefore, how long will our products be needed in traditional markets? This analysis must also be conducted. In principle, relevant instructions were given to discuss these matters with partner countries as well, given that we export fruits, vegetables, and melons in large volumes. How long will there be demand for this in markets considered traditional for us? Because right now, many countries are focusing on their own food security. True, in some countries, the climate does not permit the cultivation of various fruits. However, in any case, our exports must be aligned with market demand. Therefore, when subsidies are granted, these factors must certainly be taken into account—covering domestic demand and expanding export opportunities. In other words, subsidies must also be very flexible. Perhaps they should be reviewed every year, both by districts and by the type of product cultivated. Simply stating that a subsidy is granted to a product once and continues for 10 years cannot be allowed. That is to say, this must be a highly flexible mechanism. This, naturally, must be taken into account by all relevant institutions,” the President noted.
