“Sanctions have already affected”: what the Leningrad region will sow and reap in 2022

The Leningrad Region is starting the 2022 sowing campaign. According to representatives of the regional government, the farmers were ready for field work even before the start of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine and the sanctions that followed it, which allows us to talk about the complete “food security” of the region this year. Some industry representatives are not so optimistic.

RBC Petersburg asked experts how import substitution is actually taking place in the industry and whether it will affect consumer prices.

"Ready Without Fear"

According to the Committee for the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Leningrad Region, by the end of March, 90% of agricultural equipment had been prepared for the sowing season, the necessary contracts for the supply of fuel had been concluded, and the necessary stock of seeds of grain crops and potatoes had been created. “Today, the readiness of the region for the sowing campaign does not cause concern. We are sufficiently provided with seeds, fertilizers, machinery, but it is necessary to pay special attention to the availability of spare parts, components and loans for the agro-industrial complex,” said Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region.

In the Leningrad region, they assure that the region will not be left without food, and they cite the situation with potatoes as an example. Now the region accounts for about 33% of the total domestic seed potato market. Surplus Leningrad region sells to 30 regions of the country. At the same time, the share of imported varieties accounts for 60%, after the sowing season in 2022, the ratio will change in favor of domestic ones, according to the region.

Among the economic measures to support the industry is the publication of a register of vacant land for farmers. The list includes about 500 plots in 14 districts of the region, which can be purchased or rented for agricultural production on the basis of an auction. Benefits are provided for those who are ready to expand production. The press service of the Leningrad Region also reminded that in 2022, 2.5 times more funds were allocated from the federal budget to compensate for loan rates for farmers than last year. This will allow them to take preferential loans worth 5 billion rubles for the sowing campaign.