Amid growing pressure from climate change on soil and water resources, transforming the agricultural sector into a faster, smarter, and more sustainable model has become a necessity. This was stated by Azerbaijan's Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov during a panel discussion at the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW 2026).
According to him, the country's agricultural sector is oriented towards a productive, competitive, climate-resilient, and innovative development model. "These strategic goals are reflected in the State Program for the Development of Production and Processing of Agricultural Products for 2026-2030, approved by the President," Mammadov added.
The minister noted that under the state program, by 2030 it is planned to increase the area of land with modern irrigation systems from 130,000 to 300,000 hectares, as well as to create early warning systems in climate-vulnerable regions.
He also reported that as part of the digitalization of the sector, artificial intelligence, satellite technologies, drones, and sensors are being introduced. "Within the ministry's initiative to apply artificial intelligence in agriculture, data integration is underway. Currently, more than 180 meteorological and climate stations are being installed across the country. The value of technologies lies in their practical benefit for farmers, efficient use of water resources, and timely risk management," Mammadov emphasized.