Potato News from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, is reinforcing its role in the regional potato trade. With potatoes as a key crop, investments in modern farming and storage have boosted exports, giving fresh momentum to the sector.

Despite the beginning of the new potato harvest season in Azerbaijan, prices for this popular root vegetable still remain at record high levels.

A new variety of potatoes named ‘Murovdag’ has begun to be grown in Azerbaijan, according to Elmar Allahverdiyev, director of the Research Institute of Vegetable Growing under the Ministry of Agriculture.

New foreign varieties of potatoes are grown in Azerbaijan. Samir Verdiyev, a local farmer said he grows potatoes in six districts of the country, delivering only seeds of varieties to Azerbaijan.

In the period between January and October of 2020, 982,1 tons of potatoes were produced in Azerbaijan. According to the State Statistics Committee, compared to the same period last year, this indicator increased by 1,6%.

In the period between January and November 2018, Azerbaijan stood second in the ranking of Russia's largest potato suppliers, as revealed by the Russian Exports portal.

Starting 5 September Azerbaijan has doubled customs duty on imported potatoes. Until October 31, the import duties on imported potatoes will be 30%

The climate of Azerbaijan is favorable for the cultivation of many fruits and vegetables, including potatoes. However, there is a need for increasing potato farming since Azerbaijan imports this vegetable from abroad as well.

Azerbaijan and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sign an agreement to develop the production of virus-free seed potatoes

Azerbaijan is to resume growing of potato of Dutch variety 'Mona Lisa'.

According to data of the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, as of October 1, 2008, 1.27 mln tonnes of potatoes and 1.137 mln tonnes of vegetables were harvested.