Agriculture in Azerbaijan facts for kids
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Agriculture is a very important part of life in Azerbaijan. Even though it makes up a small part of the country's total income (called GDP), it provides jobs for many people. About 38 out of every 100 workers in Azerbaijan work in farming.
A big part of Azerbaijan's land is used for growing crops. About 21% of the land is "arable," which means it's good for planting crops every year. Another small part is used for "permanent crops," like fruit trees, which grow for many years. A lot of the farmland, about 16%, uses irrigation. This means farmers bring water to the fields to help plants grow, especially in dry areas.
Farmers in Azerbaijan grow many different things. Some main crops are grapes, cotton, tobacco, and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. They also grow rice, tea, and many kinds of vegetables. These are often "cash crops," meaning they are grown to be sold for money. Besides plants, farmers also raise livestock (animals like cows and sheep) for dairy products (like milk and cheese). They also make wine and other drinks.
In Azerbaijan, farms can be big "state farms" or "cooperative farms" where many farmers work together. There are also smaller "private farms" that are owned and run by one family. In the past, Azerbaijan was famous for its caviar, which comes from sturgeon fish. Today, the fishing industry focuses on catching sturgeon and beluga in the Caspian Sea, but their numbers are getting smaller.
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Farming History
Soviet Era Farming
For many years, when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union, farming was done differently. The government took control of most of the land. They created very large "collective farms." On these farms, many farmers worked together, but the government made most of the decisions about what to grow and how to grow it. This system was called "collectivization."
Changes After the Soviet Union
After the Soviet Union ended, Azerbaijan started to make big changes to its economy. This included farming. In 1996, a new law called the "Law on Land Reforms" was passed. This law allowed land to be given back to individual people. Now, families could own their own small farms and sell what they grew. This change is called "privatization."
Modern Farming Challenges
Even with these changes, farming in Azerbaijan still needs to improve. Many farms need "modernization." This means they need newer tools, better ways to farm, and more advanced technology. For example, much of the farming equipment is old, and the irrigation systems need updates. Also, farmers sometimes find that the money they get for their crops is less than the cost of their work. This is partly because the old collective farm system did not encourage farmers to be creative or try new things on their own.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Agricultura en Azerbaiyán para niños
