Rustam Minnikhanov: Tatarstan is a sustainable region in terms of food production

“Agriculture is not just an industry, it is life,” President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at a republican agricultural seminar-meeting on issues of agro-industrial complex.

He reminded that life of 1 mln Tatarstaners living in the country is connected with agriculture. Rustam Minnikhanov believes that village is the very place where we can keep our customs, traditions and culture. That is why we have to take care of it.

Attendees at today’s meeting in Mamadysh municipal region are first RT President, State Counselor of RT Mintimer Shaimiev, deputies of RF State Duma, spokesmen of republican ministries and agencies, heads of federal agencies in RT, investors, heads of agricultural holdings, chiefs of RT municipal regions.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that preparation for the seminar was rather solid. Agricultural objects which are really functioning and developing have been inspected before the meeting. Everyone could benefit from getting acquainted with these objects.

“Agricultural business is a complicated, many-sided work. In order to be competitive we have to implement lean production, lean technologies. Our task is to increase competitiveness of our agricultural producers,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

In the course of seminar -meeting RT President briefly told about outcomes of 2011. Thus, gross regional product in Tatarstan accounted for 1,25 trillion roubles, industrial output was produced for the sum of 1,3 trillion roubles, including 166 bln roubles in agricultural sphere. 2,4 mln m² of housing were commissioned, 1 thousand multi-apartment houses repaired in republic. More than 3 bln roubles were provided for these purposes by the republican budget.

Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that within the last 20 years natural population growth had been registered in republic. By his words, it demonstrates good performance of all social programs being realized in Tatarstan.

During the last five years more than 80 bln roubles have been invested in the context of federal program on supporting agro-industrial complex.

Rustam Minnikhanov appreciated activity on developing private households and organization of family farms. He informed that 400 family farms have now been constructed in Tatarstan and this work would be continued.