“As we are a meat-loving country, even if the price increases, the demand for meat does not decrease. We sell about 15 tons of meat in our store every month.” These words belong to the butcher Sarkhan Imanov. In his opinion, Azerbaijan’s imports of 41,400 tons of meat in January-September this year are not a big figure: “41,000 tons of meat imported for the entire country is not much. If there are no imports, the demand for meat in The country cannot satisfy itself. Importing meat from abroad relatively regulates prices. In local production, the price of fodder is forced to rise. Before, we bought manats, this year there are seven. manats. The cost of the animal is greater than the profit. That is why the price of meat is increasing.”
“Caspian” newspaper article on the subject.
For information, let us inform you that Azerbaijan has increased its expenditure on meat imports by more than 50 percent. In January-September of this year we imported 41.4 thousand tons of meat. The State Customs Committee reported on this. The value of meat in this volume was 90.5 million dollars. This is 11.2 thousand tons (36.9%) more in terms of volume and 30.4 million dollars (50.5%) more in terms of value compared to the same period last year.
Year after year, funds spent on importing meat from abroad increase, while domestic meat continues to become more expensive. Are measures being taken to solve this problem in the country?
Speaking to the newspaper “Kaspi”, deputy Vugar Bayramli stated that approximately 75 percent of the demand for meat products in Azerbaijan is covered by local production and a quarter by imports: “Among the countries from which we import meat are Georgia and India are especially worth mentioning. The domestic demand for meat from these and other countries is covered by imports.”
The deputy emphasized that one of the reasons for the increase in the value of imports is the relative increase in the price of food, including meat products in those countries: “The increase in the price of these products affects the value of imports. Va Sin To say that one of the main objectives is to eliminate dependence on imports and support the production of meat products in this direction, it is always a priority to support livestock farming, especially the potential of East Zangazur in this direction. Minimize imports and local production. . “it is possible to increase the quota.”
Deputy Azer Badamov also regrets that, despite the increase in imports, prices on the market are also increasing. Our interlocutor affirms that the main reason for the increase in meat imports is the decline of the livestock sector in our country. According to him, the possibility of having animals is limited because the pastures are converted into agricultural fields. This causes a decrease in meat products on the domestic market: “Agroparks are created in the liberated areas and new livestock areas are developed. However, mining in these areas creates difficulties in returning the land to circulation. I think that with the “In time, these lands will be reused and new areas will be opened for the development of livestock.”
The deputy highlights that according to current statistics, the increase in livestock farming is non-existent. This makes our country dependent on imports for meat supply: “The increasing dependence on imports and the lack of competition in the import process lead to price increases on the meat market. Therefore, it is important take measures to create competition in the meat import process and avoid price increases in the market. Our meat ration is important. Azerbaijani families use meat more than other countries. both national production and the competitive environment in the import process must be formed.
Economist Eyyub Huseynov said that compared to last year in Azerbaijan the number of both bovine and small horned animals has decreased. This is due to several reasons: “In the country there is both demographic growth and meat consumption. On the other hand, the reduction of pastures in our country also reduces the profitability of livestock farming, the import of forage affects the cost “This seriously affects local production. However, I believe that we have the opportunity to develop livestock farming in regions free of occupation.”
The expert stated that it is necessary to expand local production to avoid price increases: “In this sense, our only way out is to create fertile conditions for the development of livestock farming in the country and increase local production of forage. Keep the animals private Farms in the country are already causing difficulties. In this sense, the development of local households is also The allocation of certain subsidies by the state will prevent price increases in this direction and support the increase in meat production. .
