FAO: Azerbaijan's agrarian sector becomes modern digital agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized an online conference on the occasion of the Second International Tea Day.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Agriculture, that the conference was attended by agriculture ministers of leading countries engaged in tea production, experts, and specialists working in the agricultural sector. Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov represented Azerbaijan at the event.

In his opening speech, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, Qu Dongyu, spoke about the current state of tea globally and its economic importance and potential. The FAO Director-General stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation to achieve progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and promoting modern sustainable agriculture and its development.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov briefed the participants on the development of tea growing in Azerbaijan and the state support in this area. He noted that this sector plays a vital role in providing employment, increasing export potential and farmers' incomes.

It was stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between the leading tea-producing countries within the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea. Azerbaijan's agriculture is in the process of becoming modern digital agriculture. In November this year, the Azerbaijani side plans to organize an International Digital Agriculture Conference in partnership with the FAO.

Then the conference continued with panel discussions. Measures to combat pandemic risks were the main topic of discussion at the meeting. Participants of the event shared their views on the impact of COVID-19 on the development of tea, the prospects for the improvement of this area in the post-pandemic period. The conference also exchanged views on the adaptation of the agricultural sector to climate change, the cultivation of quality products and increase productivity, the establishment of a value chain in the tea industry, the role of this sector in reducing poverty.