SCIENTIFIC-PRACTICAL SEMINAR HELD ON "THE STATE OF COTTON PRODUCTION IN CHANGING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS"

In cooperation with the Scientific Research Institute of Plant Protection and Technical Crops and the Department of Plant Production Organization and Monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture, a seminar was organized on the topic "The state of cotton production in changing climatic conditions, problems and solutions" (COP 29).

The seminar was attended by Deputy Head of the Department of Plant Production Organization and Monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture Fərman Kərimov, Head of the Research and Development Department of MKT IK LLC and Chairman of the Azerbaijan Cotton Producers Association Fərid Firudinov, a representative of the Samukh District Executive Authority, professors and associate professors of the Azerbaijan State Agricultural University (ADAU), heads and representatives of the State Agricultural Development Centers (DAIM) of cotton-growing regions, heads and representatives of large companies engaged in cotton procurement and processing, scientists, specialists, and cotton farmers. The director of the institute stated that climate change is one of the global problems that concern the world. Azerbaijan has also not remained unaffected by the impact of global climate change. Over the past 100 years, the average annual temperatures in Azerbaijan have increased by 0.4-1.3°C. One of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change is agriculture. Agriculture everywhere in the world depends on weather conditions. The issue of adapting agriculture to climate change concerns not only representatives of the agrarian sector but also scientists. Breeders are developing new plant species that are more resistant to water scarcity or abundance, as well as temperature changes caused by climate change. Thus, climate change forces farmers to constantly seek new practices to achieve high yields. The farmers who participated in the event, emphasizing the constant support of the state in the agricultural sector, requested an increase in the state subsidy for cotton against the background of rising production costs in the cotton sector. At the meeting, difficulties in combating thrips and weed control were also discussed.