Baku: Only 11-12% of irrigated areas in Azerbaijan currently utilize modern irrigation systems, Agriculture Minister Majnun Mammadov stated during a roundtable discussion focused on ‘Climate-Resilient Agribusiness: Aligning Strategy, Investment, and Policy’ as part of Baku Climate Action Week.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the minister expressed concerns over the low percentage of modern irrigation usage and emphasized the need for improvement. He noted, “We are working to implement efficient and modern irrigation technologies. In my view, 11-12% is not enough for the use of modern irrigation methods. In the future, we aim to increase this figure to 100%.”
Minister Mammadov further elaborated on the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategic approach to climate change. He stressed the importance of ensuring sustainability both socially and economically, highlighting the necessity of securing farmers’ welfare and conducting activities that generate economic benefits for the state. Increasing farmers’ incomes is identified as a primary objective of the ministry’s efforts.
The minister also emphasized that climate resilience is central to the agricultural strategy. He pointed out the significance of resources such as soil, water, and finances, alongside human resources. Educating farmers, training professional specialists, improving farmer groups, and fostering the ability to use modern technologies are among the ministry’s top priorities, he underscored.