From Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
Meeting on the sustainable development of agriculture
Our agriculture industry has been developing quite well in the past few years. The grain harvest last year was very good. The production of vegetables, including potatoes, fruits and berries has grown. Livestock breeding and the food industry have reported good results.
Many basic targets set for agricultural production in the Food Security Doctrine have been met or even surpassed, including for grain, sugar, potatoes and vegetable oil.
But there is much more to be done to modernise agriculture, to motivate consumers to choose Russian fruits and vegetables, milk and meat. To achieve this goal, we have overhauled the State Agriculture Development Programme and have earmarked over 185 billion roubles to implement it this year.
The adoption of restrictive measures in response to Western sanctions has opened a window of opportunity for agricultural producers. It’s clear that it cannot stay open for ever, which is why we must win the battle for quality against any imports, which alone will help us achieve the goal of import substitution.
To achieve this goal, our farmers need convenient loan conditions. They will need both short-term loans for seasonal field work, as well as additional capital for buying fodder. They need loans for processing their output and additional funds for investment projects.
I have signed two Government resolutions to amend the rules to provide and distribute subsidies for crop production and some stock breeding farms, which should accelerate and simplify the provision of funds and their more efficient use.
Interest rates increased
in mid-December. It has been proposed that our approaches to subsidising
interest rates on agricultural loans be reviewed. This must be done quickly, so
as to ensure financing for the spring season and the investment projects on
which the task of import substitution on the food market depends.
