Efforts to Improve Cotton Production in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has a long history of cotton production and a leader in agriculture in the Caucus Region. The country has steadily modernized its agriculture industry since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union. Texas A&M University and AgroCenter have teamed up to address several issues in the cotton industry of Azerbaijan. Among the challenges, include control of weeds and insects, variety selection, irrigation scheduling, and soil fertility. The project also is focused on building human capacity and training the next generation of agronomist in Azerbaijan. Preliminary results suggest that there is minimal variety by location interaction within the country and capable of producing high-quality cotton fiber.