According to the state program, for the first time, tea was planted in Azerbaijan in the late 19th century, its scientific cultivation began in 1929.

By the end of the 1980s, the area of ​​tea plantations in the country reached 13,400 hectares and tea production – 34,500 tons. The population's need for tea was ensured by 65-70 percent through domestic production. The studies carried out in those years showed that an area of ​​about 21,000 hectares is suitable for planting tea in Azerbaijan.

According to the state program, since the 1990s tea production in Azerbaijan began to gradually decline and by 2010, 587 hectares accounted for the sown area, while the production volume - 545 tons. This situation began to improve only in 2016. By 2017 the area of ​​tea plantations doubled up to 1,114.3 hectares and tea production increased by 42.2 percent up to 775.2 tons.

The implementation of the state program will make it possible to increase the area of ​​tea plantations up to 3,000 hectares and tea harvesting – 8,500 tons. This will greatly reduce import dependence, as well as increase the export potential of this sector.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order Feb. 12 approving the State Program for the Development of Tea Industry for 2018-2027.

According to the order, the state program is approved to develop tea growing, increase the export potential in this industry, and ensure the employment of rural population.

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