Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

Starting from the 2025–2026 academic year, the “Agricultural Insurance” course has been introduced at the master’s level of the Faculty of Biology at Baku State University (BSU).

Within the framework of the course, students gain knowledge about risks posed to agricultural fields by various natural events and other factors, methods for assessing these risks, investigation of insurance cases, and methodologies for calculating damages.

It is worth noting that within Azerbaijan’s state-supported agricultural insurance mechanism, accurate investigation of insurance cases and proper calculation of damages are of critical importance, as insurance compensations for affected farms are determined based on these assessments.

At an open lecture dedicated to the launch of the course, Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Afət Məmmədova, emphasized the impact of global climate change on nature and the agricultural sector. She highlighted that proper assessment of natural risks is extremely important for agriculture and noted that the course will contribute to expanding graduates’ professional opportunities and enhancing the practical application of their knowledge.

The course is directly taught by a well-known specialist, independent agricultural insurance expert Zülfü Məmmədov, who provided detailed information on the agricultural insurance mechanism applied in Azerbaijan, its advantages, and its significance for the agricultural sector. He noted that in recent years, due to climate change, the frequency of hail, strong winds, droughts, and other natural events has increased significantly, making accurate damage assessment particularly crucial.

During the open lecture, a presentation titled “Methodology for Determining Crop Productivity” by BSU master’s student Aysun Əsədli was delivered. The presentation covered measures to be taken during the assessment of plant damage, their sequence, key points of attention, and other important aspects in detail.

It should be noted that BSU plans to introduce the “Agricultural Insurance” course at the undergraduate level in the future as well. This initiative will contribute to enhancing students’ knowledge and skills, expanding their practical experience, and increasing their active participation in the agricultural insurance system.

SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 13 (Climate Action)