Dmitry Patrushev discussed measures to support the agro-industrial complex with members of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues

The Ministry of Agriculture of RUSSIA hosted a meeting between the Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev and members of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues. The meeting participants discussed the prospects for agricultural production in 2022, issues of improving state support and regulation of the agro-industrial complex, import substitution in various segments, rural development and other relevant topics.   
   
As the HEAD of the Ministry of Agriculture noted, the sowing campaign in the Russian Federation is almost completed. According to preliminary data, more than 53.5 million hectares will be sown with spring crops. According to the Minister, with favorable weather, the department expects high yields for all major crops.    
   
Harvesting has started in the south and the North Caucasus - at the moment, almost 5.5 million tons of grain have been harvested. The provision of farmers with all material and technical resources is under special control.   
   
Livestock breeding, processing and the fishery complex continue to develop systematically. In general, the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia predicts the preservation of last year's volumes, and in a number of areas - an increase.   
   
Speaking about state support for the industry, the Minister stressed that decisions were promptly made in the spring, which made it possible to ensure the stable holding of the sowing season, as well as the uninterrupted supply of the agro-industrial complex and the food market. In total, the volume of additional funds allocated by the Government to support the industry amounted to almost 75 billion rubles. In addition, the order of the Government of the Russian Federation provides the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia with up to 153.7 billion rubles for a program of concessional lending.    
   
Among other things, all these measures made it possible to quadruple the limits on concessional lending to farmers (from 10.6 to 43.4 billion rubles for new “short” loans), increase the maximum size of a concessional short-term loan per borrower to 800 million rubles, ensure working capital backbone enterprises. Special programs for updating the fleet of agricultural machinery and equipment have been maintained, support has been provided for the baking industry, and transportation of agricultural products and fertilizers has been subsidized. Also, an additional volume of veterinary drugs was purchased to support epizootic well-being and the development of digitalization of the industry was strengthened. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture expects to allocate another 8.3 billion rubles to reimburse part of the direct costs incurred for the creation of dairy complexes, breeding and seed centers, storage facilities and other facilities.   
   
To date, about 60% of the envisaged volumes of state support funds have been brought to farmers, which is almost 2 times more than last year. Including "compensating" and "stimulating" subsidies, almost 80% was disbursed. 
  
The implementation of the state program "Integrated Development of Rural Territories" continues - over 1.1 thousand projects are being implemented this year. The Ministry of Agriculture is considering the issue of increasing funds, which will allow the regions to start implementing additional projects this year and next.    
   
During the meeting, Dmitry Patrushev answered questions from deputies regarding support for farming, providing farmers with seeds, machinery and equipment, developing agricultural insurance and other areas.