AZERBAIJAN
Strong rains in northwest Azerbaijan have not caused any serious damage to tobacco plantations, according to the chairman of the Tobacco Producers and Exporters’ Association, Telman Hasratov.
“Most of the plantations, which we have already inspected, are not damaged too much. But, we have not yet visited the plantations located at higher altitude, closer to the mountains where the precipitation was stronger. The main thing is that the plantations were not completely submerged - it would be harmful for tobacco,” he said.
Hasratov also said that in general, tobacco production in the country should significantly increase in 2018. “Crop yield is high in 2018. Farmers are even dissatisfied with the insufficient number of reception points. So the production of dry tobacco and tobacco products should increase in 2018.” Hastarov expects tobacco production in Azerbaijan may increase by 30% by late 2018.
Figures from the State Statistics Committee show that in the first half of 2018, over 975 tons of tobacco were harvested from 3,400 hectares of land in Azerbaijan, which is 8.2 times more than the same period in 2017. Revenue from tobacco in the first half of 2018 reached AZN20.48 million (US$12 million) which is 3.4 times higher than the same period year-on-year.