Azerbaijan currently meets only 55 percent of its domestic wheat demand, and this self-sufficiency rate must be increased, President Ilham Aliyev stated during a meeting dedicated to agricultural issues.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the head of state highlighted specific production and import figures, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on imports. "Our self-sufficiency rate for wheat is only 55 percent, and unfortunately, this figure is not growing. We have been producing wheat at this level for several years, despite a major push and the creation of numerous agricultural parks," President Ilham Aliyev said, noting that domestic production stands at 1.573 million tons while imports reach 1.267 million tons.
The President noted positive trends in other sectors, stating that Azerbaijan is 91 percent self-sufficient in potatoes, 107 percent in vegetables, and 140 percent in fruits and berries. He emphasized that Azerbaijan ranks among the top three to four countries globally in hazelnut production, yielding 84,000 tons and exporting 30,000 tons. Additionally, the country's grape production has reached 211,000 tons, with a 92 percent self-sufficiency rate.
In recent years, Azerbaijan has actively invested in agricultural modernization, establishing modern agroparks and implementing state support mechanisms to reduce import dependency. The government's strategic focus remains on enhancing national food security and boosting non-oil exports amid global supply chain challenges.
