Minister Inam Karimov met with farmers, visited supply points and farms in Zagatala and Balakan

Harvesting has begun in the tobacco fields of Zagatala. Tobacco farmers deliver their harvest to the collection points. Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov watched the harvest in Zagatala and got acquainted with the process of receiving products at supply points. It was noted that tobacco was planted on 588,7 hectares in the region this year. Last year, the average productivity in the region was 11,7 quintals. Productivity is expected to be higher this year.

The sides exchanged views on state support mechanisms for the development of tobacco growing, continuous involvement of farmers in trainings, organization of tobacco seedlings, formation of a value chain in tobacco growing, production of quality products and other topics.

In the near future, mass harvesting will begin in the hazelnut orchards of the region. Harvesting of spring hazelnut varieties are being continued. It was stated at the meeting held at the Zagatala hazelnut plant that there are 20183,4 hectares of hazelnut orchards in the region, of which 13183 hectares are of orchards. Early harvest adversely affects the quality of hazelnuts. At the same time, early harvesting damages the structure of trees, resulting in lower average productivity in orchards in the coming years. For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture is constantly raising awareness among farmers about the negative effects of the early harvest of hazelnuts. As a result of the implemented work, the percentage of early harvest in hazelnut growing regions has significantly decreased.

The delegation of the Ministry got acquainted with the beekeeping farm of beekeeper Movladdin Gurbanaliyev in Zagatala. For the first time in the Caucasus, an isolation zone for breeding bee families has been established in the mountainous zone in the Zagatala region. About a hundred bee families are currently kept in the isolation zone, and the productivity obtained in the zone is over 30 kilograms. Beekeeping on the farm is carried out only in accordance with the requirements of organic production.

Zagatala is one of the largest producers of wet cocoons in the country. In 2021, Zagatala farmers produced 43,4 tons of wet cocoons and handed them over to reception centers. Last year, a cocoon drying plant meeting modern standards was built in Zagatala, and this year, for the first time, products were delivered to the area.

Later, the Ministry's delegation visited intensive orchards in Balakan, Balakan fodder factory, hazelnut nursery in Gullar village and hazelnut orchards. During the meetings with farmers, it was noted that the annual increase in the area of ​​intensive orchards has had a positive impact on expanding the country's export potential of agricultural products. At present, there is an intensive orchard on 220 hectares in Balakan. Hazelnut growing is also being developed in the region. There are 10,544 hectares of hazelnut orchards in the district, 5,571 hectares are barren. Mass harvesting of hazelnuts will begin in the region in early September.

The issues and proposals raised at the meetings in Zagatala and Balakan were recorded, and instructions were given to implement the appeals.