Applications have been registered with the Agrarian Insurance Fund (AIF) regarding the damage caused by heavy rainfall to approximately 2,100 hectares of cultivated land in Azerbaijan.
Mdern.az reports this, citing the Fund.
It was stated that the unstable weather conditions, heavy rainfall, and excessive precipitation observed in the country in recent days have seriously affected agriculture, as well as other sectors. According to the Fund, heavy rainfall, the resulting river floods, and flash floods have inundated cultivated areas and caused damage to farms in some regions.
In this regard, applications from insured farmers whose farms have suffered damage to the Agrarian Insurance Fund have sharply increased. According to the applications, flooding has occurred in fruit orchards as well as field crops. The main applications regarding damage to farms have been registered in the Guba-Khachmaz, Mountainous Shirvan, Shirvan-Salyan, and Karabakh regions.
According to recent data, the most damage incidents due to heavy rainfall occurred in Khachmaz and Shabran districts. Specifically, in Khachmaz district, due to the overflowing of the Aghchay River and other small rivers as a result of heavy rainfall, insured autumn barley and wheat fields, as well as almond, pear, and quince orchards, were flooded in Istisu settlement, Ahmadoba, Haji Ahmadoba, Garajalli villages, Keymaraz village, Niyazoba village, Garaqurdlu, Chighatay village, Hajilar, and Gargan villages. Some cultivated areas were covered with silt, and according to farmers' applications, the water level in some cultivated areas reached 60 centimeters.
In Shabran district, due to the overflowing of the Devachi and Shabran rivers, as well as the filling and overflowing of some canals as a result of heavy rainfall, insured autumn barley fields, as well as a cherry orchard, were flooded in Liman, Udulu Aghaliq, and Gandov villages of the district.
In Gusar district, an barley field in Chubuglu village was flooded due to the overflowing of the river coming from Bukhul village, and an insured wheat field in Yasab village was flooded due to the overflowing of the Yasab river.
As a result of heavy rainfall, the Goru River in Guba district overflowed, flooding an apple orchard in Ashaghi Khuj village, and intensive and heavy rainfall flooded autumn barley fields in Balaja Hamya and Galashikhi villages of Siyazan district.
According to applications received by the Agrarian Insurance Fund, the main applications in the Mountainous Shirvan region were registered from Aghsu district. Specifically, insured almond orchards and wheat fields in Rahimagali and Muradli villages of the district were flooded due to flash floods from the mountains.
In Shamakhi district, flooding occurred in barley fields in Chukhuryurd village due to the overflowing of the Aghsu River, and in Darakand village of Gobustan district due to excessive rainfall.
At the same time, according to applications received by the AIF, an barley field in Gizilburun village of Hajigabul district was flooded due to the overflowing of the Pirsaat River. In Aghjabadi district, an apple orchard was damaged due to a storm and heavy rainfall.
All applications received by the Fund from farmers have been registered, and agrarian insurance experts have been dispatched to the regions to inspect the areas, investigate the incidents, and assess the damage. Starting from April 2, the damage assessment process will commence in the flooded cultivated areas in the regions by independent experts.
The Agrarian Insurance Fund urges insured farmers to visit their cultivated areas for timely damage assessment in the affected regions, and to contact the Fund's 1651 Call Center if they observe any incidents.
It should be recalled that the agrarian insurance mechanism offered with state support in Azerbaijan protects 41 crops and plant products from numerous risks. These include hail, storm-hurricane, flash flood-flooding, torrential rain, frostbite, excessive snowfall, fire, landslide, actions of a third party, and other similar events.
When insuring cultivated areas, the state pays 50% of the insurance premium, allowing farmers to insure their cultivated areas with a minimal payment.
For example, in the Guba-Khachmaz region, where most applications related to flooding are currently received, insuring 1 hectare of wheat field with a product value of 1000 manats costs the farmer only 6.65 manats, and insuring an barley field costs only 8.05 manats.
In the Mountainous Shirvan region, where flooding incidents have occurred, insuring 1 hectare of wheat field with a product value of 1000 manats costs the farmer only 10.80 manats, and insuring an barley field costs only 13.65 manats. The Agrarian Insurance Fund urges farmers to utilize affordable state insurance and insure their cultivated areas to protect them from numerous risks.
