Alexander Tkachev: sowing area has reached 80 million ha in spite of rains

Minister of Agriculture of Russia Alexander Tkachev held a session with representatives of regional AIC bodies devoted to harvesting and quality of crop products in the Republic of Tatarstan on July 5, 2017.

Russian Minister of Agriculture reported on finishing of sowing all around the country. According to his words, in spite of rains and other weather difficulties, farmers managed to expand the sowing area by 300,000 ha – up to 80 million ha in total. Farmers have already started harvesting. As of today, 1.5 million tons of grain have been harvested.

Alexander Tkachev noted that Russian AIC had made a big push in development.

“Russian agriculture is developing, there is a gain in production output, the quality of products has improved and domestic goods substitute foreign ones. Within the latest 3 years we have cut by half the import of food from different countries. This is a merit of our farmers”, - noted the minister. He added that farmers should augment grain potential and increase its production.

Vegeculture was also discussed at the session. Last year about 160 modern green houses were built in the country, which enabled to increase yield of greenhouse vegetables by 15%. According to the minister’s words, this year construction of green houses keeps going on at the same rate. As of today, gross yield of greenhouse vegetables has reached 450,000 tons, which is by a third more than it was within the same period of time last year. 100,000 tons of potato have been harvested, which is 1.5 time more than it was last year.

“Today we are carrying out historic mission. In 5-7 years our country will be able to substitute and produce food products in full, in other words it will be able to bridge deficit and enter international markets”, - said Minister of Agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture also noted a positive dynamics in terms of establishing of orchards. As of today, orchard establishing is ahead of time by 25%, thus, the area for orchard start exceeds 7,000 ha.

Director at the Department of Crop Husbandry, Mechanization, Chemicalization and Crop Protection in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Petr Chekmarev reported on the state of harvesting and the quality of products.

Director at the Department of Agricultural, Foodstuff and Construction Mechanical Engineering in the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Evgeniy Korchevoy reported on provision of Russian farmers with agricultural machinery and equipment.

Director at the Department of Economy and State Support of AIC Nataliya Chernetsova reported on the state support of agriculture.

Directors of regional AIC administrative bodies reported on the state of seasonal field work.

The following officials paricipatedt in the session which took place within the framework of “All-Russia Day of Field 2017”: Chairman at the Agrarian and Food Policy and Natural Resource Management Committee of the Council Mikhail Stchetinin, Chairman at the Agrarian Committee of the State Duma Vladimir Kashin, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Djambulat Khatuov, directors of regional AIC administrative bodies, branch alliances and associations, scientific communities and others.