Zagatala, September 4, 2025
Farmers in northwestern Azerbaijan have suspended the corn harvest in protest against falling procurement prices, warning that the crop could disappear from their fields next year if the situation is not resolved.
Producers in the Zagatala, Gakh, and Balakan districts say this year’s purchase prices have dropped to 28–30 gepiks per kilogram (about $0.16–$0.18), compared to 32–33 gepiks ($0.19–$0.20) last season. Farmers argue that at current rates their expenses cannot be covered, making corn production unprofitable, Khazar TV reported.
The main buyer is a processing plant in the Oghuz district, which sets the prices. Farmers insist that unless a fairer system is introduced, they will sharply reduce corn cultivation in 2026.
Following the protests, growers met with plant representative Murad Ibrahimli, who promised that purchase prices would be reviewed in the near future.
