Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on Monday declaring this year as the Year of Agriculture, the United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce said.

With the decree, Aliyev and the nation's government promise new development within the agricultural sector through increased government aid and promotion of agrarian interests, as well as improvements in its legal framework.

Part of the commitment includes creating modern agrarian plots and farming facilities to strengthen food security and improve export potential in the agrarian sector. Farming and related entrepreneurial ventures are eligible for loans with favorable terms. The country is also allocating resources to aid farmers with fuel costs.

The Agriculture Ministry has been instructed to work with the Cabinet of Ministers to finalize and submit plans to the president within a month.