An international conference on the development of seed production was held in Shamakhi

An international conference on the development of seed production was held today in Shamakhi jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Agro Services Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture, Inam Karimov who made a speech at the event mentioned that seed-growing is one of the strategically important production areas of Agriculture. The development of seed production in the country, ensuring the demand of producers of products for high-quality seeds at the expense of domestic production was identified as one of the priority tasks, and the Ministry of Agriculture is constantly taking necessary measures in this direction: “Increasing productivity in agricultural production by applying new methods and technologies to meet the growing food needs of the population has become one of the necessary requirements. Seed-growing is a very important sector of agriculture and one of the factors that determine the dynamics of the development of the agricultural sector. One of the prioritized direction of providing food security is the effective organization of activities in the field of seed production”.

Goshgar Tahmazli, the Chairman of Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, noted that the field of seed production has a significant share in ensuring food security. According to him, the quality control of imported plant products, sowing and sowing materials and seeds has been strengthened in order to prevent the decline in yields. Only seeds that meet the standards of health and safety indicators into the country is allowed to import after the seeds imported to Azerbaijan are tested against new generation viruses and bacteria.

Latif Gasimov, head of the Department of Agriculture and Ecology of the Cabinet of Ministers, emphasized that special attention should be paid to the production of food wheat, which is of strategic importance as the main food product: ““Experience shows that it is possible to increase the production of wheat when choosing the right sort and quality seed, as well as carrying out the necessary agrotechnical measures. The positive activity of the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant agencies should be noted in the implementation of state policy in this direction. Improving the existing legislation in the field of seed development is one of the main directions of the reforms carried out in this area”.

Orkhan Mammadov, the Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) Board,  informed about the meetings held with entrepreneurs in the agrarian sector, including seed-growing, and the surveys conducted among them, as well as the appeals received from SMB subjects on seed-growing. SMBDA supports the implementation of programs aimed at the development of entrepreneurship and SMBs in rural areas, increasing their competitiveness, and cooperates with various international and local organizations for this purpose according to his words.

Mehmet Hasdemir, the Head of the Plant Production Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey, spoke about the measures taken in the direction of the development of the seed industry in his country and shared the experiences he had gained with the participants of the conference.

The deputy representative of FAO in our country, Bariz Mehdiyev, informed about the cooperation of the organization he represents with the government of Azerbaijan, he touched on the jointly implemented projects and the measures implemented in the direction of the development of seed production.

The conference continued its work in panel sessions. Discussions and presentations were held on the prospects of grain, vegetable seed production and nursery development during the session. The ideas regarding the development of seed production on scientific basis, the use of international experience in the organization of primary seed production, and the application of new innovative technologies in seed production were exchanged during the discussions.