TO AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
Esteemed agricultural workers,
I warmly congratulate you, the laborious people of Azerbaijan, on the Day of Agricultural Workers.
In our country, peasant labor has always been considered honorary and deserved high attention and respect. Agriculture is an important part of our economy and its speedy development is the result of industrious and laborious people hardly working in this field.
In 70-80s of the past century - the first period of management of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev in Azerbaijan, special attention was rendered to development of the agrarian sector and evaluation of labor of the agricultural workers. In the mentioned period, as a result of the farsighted policy and enormous efforts of the leadership of Republic, the agrarian-industrial sector has developed intensively.
In early 90s, the deep recession the country underwent, touched also the agrarian sector. The agrarian-industrial sector had completely destroyed and the agriculture with great potential became an economic sector running at a loss.
As in other spheres, the return of the Great Leader to political power in Azerbaijan was a substantial turning point in this field, too. In mid-90s, the country conducted radical land reforms. These measures promoted establishment of new economic relations and created necessary environment to protect the interests of peasant labor forces.
Currently, share of private sector in agriculture makes up 99,7 percent. Despite hardships of the transition period, the agrarian sector develops to promote realization of the strategic tasks for country’s food provision. Development of entrepreneurship stimulates formulation of medium strata in rural areas.
Acceleration of economic development and rise of financial resources in the country enables to take extra effective measures for support of the agrarian sector. In the last five years, volume of investments in fixed capital has risen by 7 times, while credit investments by 8 times. Expansion of the opportunities for preferential crediting in agrarian sphere, grants to agricultural producers and ensuring them with relevant techniques and artificial fertilizers yield positive results.
Currently, infrastructure of the regions, including villages, their energy provision is improved, new roads and means of communication installed, and construction of socio-cultural objects is in success. These works bring not only economic accomplishments in rural places, but also stimulate mass social activity.
With the adoption of State Program on reliable food maintenance we begin a new phase in agrarian reforms. The Program is reflection of government to the agriculture, the village and peasant. Along with rise of the volume of production in agrarian sector, we should achieve high productivity and effectiveness in this sphere, application of advanced technology, expansion of processing enterprises, and the major, rise of competitiveness of our local goods.
The government will further continue its economic policy to serve and meet the interests of agricultural producers. The obstacles impeding development of agrarian sector will be successively eliminated and its financial provision and crediting mechanism be improved and henceforth. Terms of tax preferences for agricultural producers will be prolonged.
I am convinced that development of regions, reduction of poverty and unemployment and the food programs will certainly deepen positive changes in the life of agricultural workers. Mobilizing our chances in development of agrarian sector, we, too, expect high quality products, progressive economic skills, high and industrious initiatives from the agricultural producers.
The agriculture is not only a kind of economic activity. It is a manner of life and centuries-old agricultural tradition of our people. I extend my gratitude to the agricultural workers who have inherited this tradition to the new generation, and our labor veterans for their selfless work.
Sure, in the coming years we shall mark this professional Day with greater achievements. Once again I congratulate you on your professional holiday and wish successes in your activity.
Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, October 30, 2008
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