Nikolai Fyodorov’s address focused on the Government's support for the agro-industrial complex and promoting the sector's sustainable operation and development under the conditions of Russia’s membership of the World Trade Organisation and the Customs Union.
Mr Fyodorov described the agricultural sector's main performance parameters based on the results of 2012 and outlined the ministry's tasks under the state programme for the development of agriculture to 2020.
According to the Minister, the state programme adopted in July 2012 outlined the fundamental principle of food chains “from the field to the shop counter”, incentivising the production of not only raw materials but also quality end products to meet the demands of growing global food market competition. The situation demands restructuring farmer support measures from loan subsidies to direct payments to farmers. The Ministry is paying more attention to the support of small- and medium-sized businesses and to the development of rural infrastructure and innovation.
In terms of new state support mechanisms for the agricultural sector aimed at strengthening the food export potential and continuing the import substitution policy, Mr Fyodorov drew the attention of the Federation Council deputies to the need to cooperate with the regions, including through the efficient co-funding of federal events.
According to the Minister, as far as legal support for the WTO and the Customs Union membership is concerned, a number of significant laws have been adopted on tax benefits for farmers and on extending the status of a legal entity for peasant farms.
The draft law On the Plant Quarantine, the amendments to the federal law On Agriculture Development in respect to determining unfavourable regions for agriculture, have passed the first reading and are being prepared for the second reading in the State Duma.
The Government has approved the draft law On Amateur Fishing, the amendments to the laws On Fishery and Preservation of Water Biological Resources and On the Peasant (Farmer) Economy in respect to registering peasant farms. The federal laws on seed-farming, stock-breeding, and organic production, and the amendments to the federal law On the Development of Agriculture in respect to supporting farm product processing, are presently being agreed upon by the departments.
Following the meeting, the Federation Council adopted a resolution on measures to develop the agro-industrial complex under the conditions of Russia’s accession to the WTO and its participation in the Customs Union.
