Argiculture

Historically, agriculture has been a major employer in the economy of Azerbaijan. It employs around 40% of the country’s working population and is one of the government’s priority sectors for diversifying the national economy away from reliance on the oil and gas sector.

Azerbaijan’s favorable climatic conditions and an extended growing season afford the production of a wide variety of crops. More than 58% of the country’s territory is arable.

Fruits (apples, cherries, grapes, olives, lemons, persimmons, melons, watermelons, raspberries, strawberries, currants, plums, peaches, pears, quince, and pomegranates), vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and greens), grains (wheat, maize, barley), tea leaves, and nuts are high quality, have minimal unit production costs, and have strong brand recognition in post-Soviet markets. In recent years, high-quality organic products from Azerbaijan, such as pomegranate juices and wines, have found their niches in lucrative Western markets, as well as in the United States.

Moreover, the country’s advanced petrochemical industry allows packaging industries around the world to take advantage of raw materials widely available in Azerbaijan for agricultural purposes.