A public discussion was held on the topic of "Current problems in milk and meat production and assessment of impacts on food security"

A public discussion on the topic of “Current problems in milk and meat production and assessment of impacts on food security” was held under the organization of the Public Council under the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMEDA) and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture. The event, organized at the “Baku SME House”, was attended by representatives of state agencies and business associations, such as the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy, the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Customs Committee, etc., as well as about 80 entrepreneurs operating in the relevant field.

Chairman of the Public Council under the SMEDA Emin Dostiyari said that the purpose of the event was to discuss the current situation in the field of milk and meat production, listen to the opinions and suggestions of entrepreneurs operating in this field, as well as to exchange views on issues related to food security.

Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov noted in his speech that the state is applying systematic support mechanisms to stimulate the development of the livestock sector. During 2021–2025, a concession of 89.8 million manat was applied for the purchase of 25,615 heads of cattle and more than 8 thousand small-horned breeding animals, and at the same time, more than 128 million manat of low-interest preferential loans were provided to more than 10 thousand economic entities. Vaccination measures against particularly dangerous diseases are fully implemented at the expense of the state budget. The Minister emphasized that the liberated territories have significant potential for the development of livestock farming, and targeted policy measures for the organization and development of the sector in these territories are being consistently implemented.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SME Agency Orkhan Mammadov emphasized the strategic importance of milk and meat production in terms of food security and noted the importance of a systematic approach to existing challenges and issues in this area. He emphasized that factors such as feed base, veterinary control, organization of the production and supply chain, compliance with standards and awareness-raising are closely related to each other. It was noted that ensuring the sustainability of micro and small businesses operating in the dairy and meat sectors is important for the socio-economic development of the regions and increasing employment.

Within the framework of the event, the Ministry of Agriculture made a presentation on the state policy and goals for the development of the livestock sector, listened to the proposals of entrepreneurs and answered their questions.