Summary

Vigorous economic growth and social transformation over the past 20 years have turned Azerbaijan into an impressive upper-middle-income country. The fragility of the economy because of its heavy dependence on oil and gas production highlights a need for diversification by increasing investments in the non-oil sector. The Government is therefore focusing its efforts on developing the country’s agricultural potential and on increasing productivity to guarantee economic stability. Azerbaijan has made impressive efforts to establish new institutions. The challenge now is to ensure that the right to food is provided for all and the related goals are implemented through the allocation of adequate budgets and securing growth that benefits all levels of society. That effort is still in its early stages and needs to incorporate a human rights-based approach to ensure sustainable development in the agricultural sector that is sensitive to the needs and traditions of the country’s regions and people of different ethnic backgrounds.