Aliyev says Azerbaijan’s wheat self-sufficiency stands at only 55%

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has stated that the country is currently only 55% self-sufficient in wheat production, calling the figure unacceptable. He made the remarks during a government meeting dedicated to agricultural development.

According to Aliyev, despite significant investments in agriculture and the creation of agro-parks, wheat production has remained largely stagnant in recent years. He said the sector has “stayed in place” even with government efforts aimed at boosting output.

At present, domestic wheat production stands at 1.573 million tons, while imports reach 1.267 million tons. The president stressed the need to reduce reliance on imported grain, although he acknowledged that full self-sufficiency in food wheat may not be realistic due to geographic and agricultural constraints.

Aliyev noted that the situation with other grains is significantly better. Azerbaijan reportedly achieves around 95% self-sufficiency in other grain crops, with only minimal import volumes required.

He also commented on pulses, where domestic production amounts to around 23,000 tons compared to 15,000 tons of imports, resulting in a self-sufficiency level of 63%. The president emphasized the importance of further strengthening food security and increasing local agricultural output.

Tags: Azerbaijan, food security, wheat