Closing speech by Ilham Aliyev at the meeting on private enterprise development in the sphere of agriculture in the Karabakh economic zone in Agjabadi

Agriculture is a priority sphere for us. As we have said, by developing agriculture we will succeed in eliminating unemployment and ensuring the development of domestic production, thus making the country’s economy even more sustainable. Considering that about 50 per cent of Azerbaijan’s population lives in the countryside, this is a major social issue. Therefore, all these issues will certainly be envisaged in the investment program in the years ahead. Even more attention should be paid to the development of villages in the coming years.

A lot has been done. The process of gasification is now under way. The issue of electricity supply has practically been resolved. Gas lines are being laid in all regions and villages. Gasification activities in most villages must be completed before the end of 2012, according to my instruction. As for the Karabakh zone, I think gasification must be complete here, and we are working on this.

Problems involving drinking water and sewage are traditionally worrying because the lack of sewage lines and proper supply of drinking water is the most serious problem, especially in rural areas. Specific programs are under way at the national level to resolve this issue. We will try to resolve this issue completely before the end of 2013. Very major investment is envisaged here, there are technical difficulties involved. However, relevant instructions have been issued and, let me repeat, we will try to ensure that the program on districts covers these issues as well. By 2013 we must do whatever we can.

The construction of village roads is progressing faster. We opened new village roads in four districts yesterday and today, and this process must be continued. Not only in this region, but also in all others. Extra funds are allocated, the construction of roads is a very important issue from both social and economic standpoints. Additional funds are envisaged in this year’s budget for this issue, while even more attention should be paid to the construction of village roads in next year’s budget too.

An instruction has been issued to the Presidential Administration, you have received all proposals from the ground. These proposals have been forwarded to me. On the basis of these proposals funds have been allocated from the Reserve Fund of the President for these roads – village roads in Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli and Agjabadi Districts. These were the most important roads. For instance, the 68-km road in Sabirabad, the 24-km road in Agjabadi, the 27-km roads in Saatli and Imishli Districts connect large villages. But such proposals are coming from every district. Therefore, we must incorporate them into the program for this and especially next year, so that to restore village roads to the maximum extent possible. Besides, we are building these roads at a high level. These used to be earth roads, there was no asphalt on them. Now these are wonderful asphalt roads. This will give a major impetus to the development of villages as well.

Restoration is under in the villages affected by last year’s mudslides. A lot has been done. But a lot still remains to do. While in the Gasimbayli village yesterday, I attended the opening of a new school. New homes have been built there. Most of the work has been completed not only in Sabirabad but also in all other districts. But attention should be paid to all villages.

When returning from Gasimbayli, I saw residents of a neighboring village standing on the side of the road and waiting for me. I stopped the car, got out and asked what the matter was. They answered that things were not progressing too fast in their Asgarbayli village. In some villages things go fast, in others not. My program included the Gasimbayli village, maybe because it is better off. But if I hadn’t been to the neighboring Asgarbayli village, I wouldn’t have found out the state of things there. So it is necessary to pay attention to such issues.

I do understand that the scope of work is vast. The work we are doing is quite impressive. In a short period of time, in a matter of months, we have done most of the work at our own expense. Thousands of homes, schools and social facilities have been built in at state expense. A total of 70,000 hectares of land were flooded. Thousands of homes were completely destroyed. Thousands more were in emergency condition. Now, after some time, we need to revisit this issue. The homes that were not registered as being in emergency condition eventually turned out to be unsafe. So it is necessary to audit them again and take additional measures before winter to restore all these houses and take a good care of those affected.

Nevertheless, I want to say that a lot has been done – both on strengthening the dams and on building houses and roads. The people of Azerbaijan have displayed tremendous heroism. Both those living in villages and affected by the mudslides, and rescue workers. All state bodies worked very well and our countrymen were assisted in a dire situation.

Issues of irrigation and amelioration hold a special place among infrastructure projects. If we want to keep on developing our agriculture, and we certainly do, we should pay more attention to these issues. Major projects are being implemented in the country. Thanks to them, thousands, possibly even tens of thousands of new plots will be irrigated. The Shamkirchay and Takhtakorpu water reservoirs are under construction, there are other projects. Canals are to be built, the Samur-Absheron water canal is under construction. All these projects require major investment. Hundreds of millions of manats are invested in this in order to bolster agricultural development.

Following the introduction of new lands, agricultural production will increase. At the same time, as we have repeatedly said, agricultural development must be intensified. It is necessary to apply the latest technologies. We should engage the agrarian science. There was an exchange of views on this subject at a recent annual meeting of the Academy of Sciences. Afterwards a special commission was set up on my resolution. A commission led by the prime minister was established and I hope it will provide specific suggestions in the near future. There is a great need for the proper development of agrarian science.

We now have several agrarian institutions. They should work more efficiently. Their produce must be of higher quality, specific suggestions should be made on how to improve these institutions. It is up to you to determine what these suggestions will be – submit a proposal and we will examine it. We must pay more attention to the agrarian science. This sphere has not received sufficient attention. But this is the time and we can achieve a major turnaround in the development of agrarian science and attract progressive technologies to Azerbaijan – especially now when we are buying machinery and the best pedigree cattle. But if the conditions and the entire infrastructure are not at the required level, this will not produce the desired result. So all these issues must be considered together. The relations with foreign agrarian scientific research centers should be further stepped up. We must engage foreign specialists because we must know what is happening in the world, how these issues are addressed in a certain country, in developed countries. We must apply their experience – of course, by adapting it to domestic conditions.

Therefore, all these issues, i.e. the issues of irrigation, amelioration and development of the agrarian science, are of special importance. We will be resolving irrigation and amelioration issues using state investment. There is a great need for that. Additional proposals must be submitted. We must expand the areas under crop. When I was visiting the Imishli sugar plant yesterday – as you know, new enterprises are starting to operate there – it was indicated that domestic production accounts for 12 per cent of the plant’s operation. This is a positive fact because we had very little sugar beet before the plant started operating. Now, sugar beet is produced and processed in different regions and districts. But we are aware that sugar plants in other countries work primarily on local raw materials. I think 12 per cent is not enough. It is not higher because there is not enough fertile land. Therefore, irrigation work must be carried out not only to grow sugar beet but also in connection with all other spheres. We will be setting up major grain production farms now.