(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Aygul Salmanova
Although theproductionofchestnutsdoes not constitute a considerable share of agricultural products cultivated in Azerbaijan, it still represents a considerable economic factor.
Seymur Safarli, Deputy Director of the plant Cultivation Department of the Agriculture Ministry, told Azernews that planting area for chestnuts constituted 391.7 hectares in 2016, 11.3 hectares of which were for newly established orchards. For the same period of time, production of chestnuts reached 763.4 tons, while the productivity was 20.5 quintal per hectare.
Gabala region is leading among those producing chestnut, having 214 hectares chestnut orchards. 'Chestnuts are mainly cultivated in Sheki-Zagatala economic zone (380 hectares), with Sheki having 45 hectares area and Zagatala with 60 hectares area. Among the regions Gabala has the largest area for chestnut cultivation - 214 hectares, he said.
Peeled and shelled chestnuts mainly exported to Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation, Safarli noted. He said that 0.6 tonnes chestnuts amounting $1,300 were exported for the 11 month period, according to State Statistics Committee.
Safarli noted that peeled and shelled chestnuts are usually imported from China and Turkey. 'Some 168.7 tonnes of chestnuts amounting $305,400 were imported to the country, according to the data provided by State Statistics Committee for 11 months period.
Touching upon the policies for the development of this area, he noted that there is no particular state support for chestnut production. However, he said that some 50 manats ($29) are subsidized for fuel oils per hectare of the garden, as well as 70 percent of the value of fertilizers and pesticides used in gardens (100 manats [$59] per hectare on fertilizers, 10 manats [$5.9] per hectare on pesticides) are met by the state.
Chestnut fruit, which has many healing properties, is cultivated in Azerbaijan mainly on October-November. The chestnut tree, existing for approximately 100-150 years, gives fruits only after 20-25 years. Sometimes it is possible to find chestnut trees, reaching thousand years.
Chestnuts, are a group of approximately eight or nine trees and shrubs belonging to the similar family with oak and beech trees. These chestnut trees produce an edible nut, commonly referred to as the chestnut, which widely is popular around the world.
The interesting fact about chestnuts is that they are considered both a nut and a fruit. This is because fruits are technically defined as the product of a flowering plant, and most nuts fall into this category.
Having a mildly sweet taste, chestnuts can easily be added to a variety of different dishes.
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