AZE.US
Azerbaijan has expanded the list of agricultural machinery and equipment eligible for state-backed financing, adding harvesting systems, specialized trailers, poultry-processing lines and refrigerated warehouses with capacity of up to 500 cubic meters.
The Agriculture Ministry’s board approved the changes in a resolution signed by Minister Majnun Mammadov, according to Vesti Baku.
The expanded list includes mechanized harvesting systems and special trailers used to transport combine headers.
To qualify for support, combine harvesters must be equipped with GPS monitoring capable of transmitting location data in real time, as well as a system that monitors the harvesting process.
Processing and Storage Equipment Added
The list also now includes poultry slaughter and primary-processing lines through the weighing and packaging stage. Refrigerated warehouse systems with a capacity of no more than 500 cubic meters are covered as a separate category.
The decision broadens the equipment that can be purchased on preferential terms through Azerbaijan’s Agrarian Credit and Development Agency. The mechanism covers the sale, financing and leasing of agricultural machinery and technological equipment.
Under the agency’s current rules, an authorized credit institution has up to 15 business days to review an application. If its assessment is positive, the agency has another 15 business days to examine the documents. Approved funds must then be transferred to the credit institution within three banking days.
Support Level Depends on Category
The new resolution expands the list of eligible equipment but does not set a separate subsidy rate for every newly added item.
The Agriculture Ministry previously said the preferential share for certain types of agricultural machinery, refrigerated warehouses, grain silos, laser land levelers and solar panels used in farming could be increased to as much as 50%. Support for locally produced drip-irrigation systems can reach 60%, compared with up to 50% for imported systems.
The final financing level for newly eligible equipment will depend on the equipment category and the program terms in effect when an application is filed.
The expanded list was reported by Report. Current financing rules and state-support parameters are available from the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency and the Agriculture Ministry.
AZE.US