The plan lists the Ministry’s primary objectives, performance indicators and key events aimed at achieving growth in agricultural production, including fish products that ensure Russia’s food independence; increasing living standards in rural areas; supporting small farms and cooperatives; providing epidemic safety and conducting veterinary and phytosanitary oversight of agricultural products; and improving effectiveness of land use in agriculture.
At the meeting, members of the Agriculture Ministry’s Public Council discussed feasibility of some of the plan’s indicators. They agreed that the implementation of the state programme for the development of agriculture in 2013-2020 was the main instrument for achieving the set priorities of the national agricultural policies after Russia’s WTO accession.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Yuryev noted that growth of agricultural production is one of the key indicators of the agricultural sector’s potential. By 2018, crop production is expected to increase by 15.5%, and livestock breeding by 14.7%.
Speaking about support for small farms and cooperatives, Dmitry Yuryev stressed that by 2018 over 10,000 beginning farmers and 1,000 family livestock breeding farms will get grants for starting up, construction or modernisation of their farms. This will be done under approved federal targeted programmes.
In the next six months, the plan of the Agriculture Ministry’s activities for the next five years will undergo public hearing and debates, which will be completed by the end of 2013.
Source: Agriculture Ministry
