Azerbaijan: Agrocomplex as a new driver of growth in Shamakhi Overview by Khazar Akhundov

Following a tradition established over the past quarter-century, during his visits to the country’s regions, the head of state participates in the inauguration of infrastructure, industrial, and social facilities, and familiarises himself with the operations of agricultural enterprises. The visit of March 23 to the Shamakhi district by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was no exception.

During the visit, a ceremony was held to inaugurate the largest livestock complex in the South Caucasus, Shirvan Agro. President Aliyev highlighted the development of the district’s tourism potential and transport capabilities, and also took part in the opening of the new building of the Shamakhi European Lyceum.

A key outcome of the president’s visit to the Shamakhi district was the opening of the Shirvan Agro livestock complex, which covers an area of approximately 100 hectares and is designed for the production of high-quality meat and dairy products.

“ This enterprise is of great importance for the development of agriculture both in the Shamakhi district and across the country. It is the largest meat and dairy farm not only in Azerbaijan but also in the South Caucasus,” said President Ilham Aliyev. “We are currently working to reduce the volume of imports. Our goal is to ensure 100 percent self-sufficiency in meat, milk, and dairy products. We are approaching this goal, although it has not yet been fully achieved. The launch of such farms will help us reach this objective. In fact, we will also be able to export meat and dairy products in the future.”

The head of state also emphasised that the new complex is one of the most modern in the fields of agriculture and agricultural processing. “The technologies applied here are those of leading companies, and the highest standards of modern business practices are being implemented. I would like to emphasize once again that this enterprise will play a significant role in increasing employment in the Shamakhi district.”

The extensive work to equip the livestock complex with advanced machinery and digital technologies for production control and management is truly impressive. The new facility is designed to accommodate 9,000 head of cattle: 3,200 dairy cows, 3,000 beef cattle, and 2,800 calves. Currently, it houses highly productive cows and bulls of elite breeds, including Holstein-Friesian, Limousin, Aberdeen-Angus, and others.

As one of the largest livestock enterprises in the South Caucasus and the wider CIS region, the complex is equipped with cutting-edge technology, operates with artificial intelligence (AI), and makes maximum use of “green” energy sources. It features rotary (carousel) milking systems as well as parallel milking systems, with online milk quality analysers installed at every milking station.

The complex also boasts the country’s most advanced milk cooling system, capable of rapidly lowering milk temperatures from 32°C to 4°C. Additionally, a specialised weighing system monitors herd development in real time, enables efficient feed management, and electronically calculates the weight of each animal.

The complex also includes a reproductive centre, operating with the best global genetic material, which will significantly improve herd reproduction and accelerate growth, thereby increasing milk production. AfiCollar electronic collars are used to identify animals and monitor their health status. An innovative herd management system allows for early disease detection and rapid treatment of affected animals.

The complex also houses a feed centre equipped with advanced, specialised stationary equipment, as well as a slaughterhouse outfitted with innovative systems and a Dry Age chamber.

The commissioning of this modern complex in Shamakhi contributes to the development of livestock farming, one of the key sectors ensuring food security. According to the Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development and the Law on Food Security, recent agricultural transformations are primarily aimed at guaranteeing the country’s food security.

The livestock sector has occupied a special place in recent agricultural reforms. Over the past decade, Azerbaijan has undertaken a large-scale process of importing high-yield elite breeds of cattle, while a significant portion of both meat and dairy herds was shifted from traditional grazing to stall-based systems, primarily in large-scale farms and agro-parks. Today, this effort is focused on developing mega-scale, high-tech meat and dairy enterprises with closed production cycles, their own feed base, and processing segments that produce high value-added products.

For example, a complex of this type was established several years ago in the Zangilan district of Azerbaijan: the Azerbaijani-Turkish joint venture “Dost”, which currently operates farms for 3,500 head of cattle and has the potential to expand to 10,000 head of breeding stock. A feed base with circular irrigation systems has been created, alongside an integrated meat-processing and packaging facility and warehouses with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes of products.

The need for such large-scale livestock enterprises is extremely high: they reduce production costs, lower the cost of final products, and increase productivity through modern technologies, while ensuring animals are kept in healthy conditions. Together with a reliable domestic market supply, this also allows for exporting meat and dairy products to international markets. These factors are particularly important, as domestic livestock production has not grown sufficiently in recent years. According to State Statistics Committee data, in January–February 2026, livestock production increased by only 0.9%, while milk production fell by 0.4% and egg production by 3.3%.

At the inauguration ceremony of the Shirvan Agro livestock complex, it was noted that the implementation of the project will play an important role in enhancing the district’s overall agricultural potential. The new enterprise has created jobs for more than 200 residents of Shamakhi and surrounding areas. In addition, a residential building has been constructed within the complex to accommodate agricultural workers from other regions of the country, as well as foreign specialists.

The development of agricultural production is one of the key pillars of the Shamakhi district’s economic system. Alongside livestock farming, the region is well known for its vineyards and developed processing infrastructure. Several large and small wineries operate here, while the area of newly planted vineyards in the district has reached 1,700 hectares. Colourful wine festivals are held here annually, and wine tourism continues to grow.

In recent years the recreational sector in Shamakhi has developed quite successfully. Five four- and five-star hotels have been built, several leisure zones are in operation, and destinations for family-oriented agro-ecological tourism are expanding.

“Shamakhi has become one of the tourism centers of our country. A number of modern recreation areas, hotels, catering, cultural, and educational facilities have been established here,” said President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to the district.

The head of state also noted that the Shamakhi–Baku highway meets the most modern standards.

“The Shamakhi–Baku highway is also highly modern, providing strong connectivity with both Baku and the western and northwestern regions of the country. A new Shamakhi–Ismayilli–Gabala highway is currently under construction. The bridge being built there is the largest in our country, and it is expected to be commissioned next year,” said the President of Azerbaijan.

The development of the education sector in Azerbaijan is one of the key priorities of state policy, and the implementation of this strategy covers both Baku and the regions. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation makes a significant contribution to these efforts at the national level. As part of the programme “New School for a Renewing Azerbaijan”, more than 500 modern schools have been commissioned across the country to date, contributing to the improvement of education standards.

During his visit to Shamakhi, the head of state also took part in the opening of a new building for the Shamakhi European Lyceum, constructed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. According to information provided by presidential aide Anar Alakbarov, the previous building housing the lyceum was constructed in 1937 and reconstructed in 1987. However, over time it had fallen into disrepair, and therefore, on the instructions of the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, a new facility was built.

The new general education institution, designed to accommodate 1,200 students, consists of seven three- and four-storey buildings equipped with all necessary furniture and facilities. As the largest school in the district, it includes more than 50 classrooms, physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, IT and STEAM rooms, facilities for military training and vocational education, a medical unit, library, canteen, assembly hall and sports hall, as well as an outdoor sports ground.