Additional Support to Strengthen Supply Chain Linkages
On July 12 the USAID-supported Azerbaijan Business Assistance and Development Program (ABAD) organized another Proper Sugar Beet Cultivation workshop, as part of continuing collaboration with the Azerbaijan Sugar Production Union, a branch of Azersun Holding. The workshop, conducted at the Union site in Imishli, served to present information to local farmers to increase their knowledge on weeds, pests and diseases control for proper sugar beet cultivation, and to promote strengthening of supply chain linkages with the Sugar Production Union. In total, approximately 60 farmers from different villages of the local and adjacent districts attended. Participants included a representative of Azerbaijan Sugar Production Union Rajab Orujov, ABAD long-term consultant Nizami Garayev, ABAD short-term consultant on sugar beet cultivation Ibrahim Kazimov, and several ABAD staff members, as well as local authorities.
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| Rajab Orujov, a representative of the Sugar Production Union, talked with farmers about proper sugar beet cultivation |
During the workshop, Rajab Orujov, representative of the Sugar Production Union, informed participants about the work of the Sugar Production Union, emphasizing its high demand for raw material and the mechanisms and advantages of cooperation with the plant. In addition, Orujov spoke about the opportunities of growing sugar beets as means of increasing economic opportunities, particularly in remote regions of Azerbaijan. In his remarks, Orujov expressed gratitude towards the ABAD program, specifically mentioning the value of expertise gained through technical assistance from both local and international consultants. For example, in March 2007, ABAD synergized its activities with ACDI/VOCA’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program to bring a sugar beet specialist from the United States to provide technical assistance to the Sugar Production Union and farmers.
Nizami Garayev, an ABAD long-term consultant, lead another component of the workshop providing a comprehensive presentation on weeds, pests and disease control for proper sugar beet cultivation; international practice in the use of various herbicides and pesticides; identification of sugar beet diseases and recommended measures to combat sugar beet diseases; and other hindrances and mechanisms to assist in effective sugar beet cultivation. During the final session, farmers shared their experiences and discussed various issues related to sugar beet cultivation.
Participants visited several sugar beet fields as a practical continuation of workshop discussions, enabling them to observe first-hand the threats to sugar beet cultivation. In addition to other activities, workshop participants received a brochure highlighting five major advantages of growing sugar beets in Azerbaijan, published by the ABAD program.
The workshop played a significant role in promotion of strengthening supply chain linkages in the sugar production system, a relatively new industry in Azerbaijan. Such events gain importance as they spread information to rural population and provide opportunities to obtain theoretical and practical knowledge on proper sugar beet cultivation.
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