Presentation of the project for strengthen of agricultural extension services were held in Azerbaijan

Today agriculture and food systems face major changes affecting the future of the sector in Azerbaijan and around the world.

When agribusiness companies and globalized supply chains change agriculture, new trends are formed as a result of climate change, the natural resources base is depleted, unstable market dynamics, global trade, rapid economic growth initiatives create new risks and opportunities. For this reason, the needs and interests of producers of agricultural products are changing, the introduction of innovative processes in food and agricultural production is required. Under such circumstances, agricultural extension services have the potential to play a new role in providing the best support and benefiting from the opportunities in this field. The main functions, tools, approaches of Agricultural Services should be thoroughly revised to fulfill this role, and agriculture should be defined as one of the main sectors for the development and diversification of the Azerbaijani economy.

The EU-funded project "Strengthening agricultural extension services” complies with the main strategic priorities of the Development Concept "Azerbaijan 2020: Vision for the Future" and pays special attention to the establishment of an ecologically clean, effective and productive agricultural production system. The two-year project, implemented by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aims to support the Ministry of Agriculture in the development of strategies and the joint effective implementation of the extension services system in order to provide a more flexible and sustainable response to current and future challenges in agriculture. At the same time, the project will contribute to the development of capacity building in the field of training, forum and platform-based extension services and contribute to the achievement of strategic goals (strategic target -5, priorities -5.1 and 5.3) and strategic priorities of the government for 2020, 2025, 2030.

Minister of Agriculture Mr. Inam Karimov said that the agricultural sector was declared the leading non-oil sector in the country. He said that as a result of the reforms carried out under the leadership of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev in recent years, the agricultural sector is developing steadily: “The digitization of the agricultural sector and the organization of quality services meeting modern standards for farmers is one of our main principles. We implemented necessary steps to ensure that these services are quality and accessible based on the principle of a single window. Of course, we attach special importance to the support of our international partners and the establishment of effective cooperation with them in order to achieve the set goals. The importance of international projects in increasing the capacity of Agricultural-oriented research institutes and turning them into a network of information and extension services is great. I think that the project, which we are meeting today at the opening ceremony, will give an impetus to the development of Agricultural extension services. The priority direction of the project should be strengthening the potential of existing institutions, developing a strategy of extension services that meets modern challenges more accurately and flexibly. I am sure that the successful implementation of this project will give additional support to the measures implemented by the state in this field”.

The head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas said that the aim of the project is to closely assist Azerbaijan's policy towards the development of the agricultural sector in the field of sustainable agriculture. This project will enable the European Union to promote and implement agricultural practices in line with the environment and climate.

Mr. Jankauskas said that Azerbaijan could benefit from the experience of other countries, including the experience of EU countries in the field of Agrarian advisory services in search of a concrete solution for an effective advisory system.

Leading technical specialist of the FAO, Ms. Nevena Aleksandrova noted that the main goal is to develop a viable, effective and efficient model for the provision of modern extension services that meet the needs of all farmers in Azerbaijan and can increase innovation in the agricultural sector. Nevena Aleksandrova stressed that it is important to turn agricultural extension services into an effective system that provides quality control. The project in question develops information regulators by creating a network of consultants across the country to digitize agricultural extension services, improve knowledge and skills.

The project will be implemented under the leadership of Melek Chakmak, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's partnership and Coordination Office for Azerbaijan. Ms. Chakmak emphasized the importance of this project for farmers and rural people and emphasized the importance of extension services. He expressed confidence that the project will play an important role in meeting the needs of small-scale entrepreneurs, women and young people in rural areas.