Rustam Minnikhanov: “This year we expect pooper harvest”

On June 26 at a republican meeting on agricultural issues in Kukmor region Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that unfavourable weather conditions would affect this year’s harvest and agricultural workers should do their best to provide forage reserve and bread.

We are coming to the most responsible period for the whole agricultural industry, Rustam Minnikhanov continued.

He noted that plant growing sector is in poor state because of previous three years of unfavourable weather conditions. Besides, not all enterprises were ready for new conditions after Russia joined the WTO.

Tatarstan President asked financial institutes to approach support of agricultural industry in a more constructive way, and agricultural workers to increase work efficiency.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, implementation of all federal and republican will be continued. Tatneft and TAIF companies are ready to reduce fuel prices during harvest campaign.

The land improvement programme turned out to be very efficient and it should be continued.

Rustam Minnikhanov also asked to continue work on creating family farms.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov, in his turn, made a report on current state of agricultural industry. He told that in the first half of 2013 the cost of produced agricultural goods made 60 bln rubles. Credit debts in the industry are twice as much as the annual receipt.

Speaking about current state of crops, Marat Akhmetov said that the current week will be a decisive one. The shortage of rainfalls will prevent from having good crops. However, Tatarstan leadership hopes to provide enough crops for Tatarstan population.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov focused on ensuring fire safety and insurance of crops. He highly estimated the level of today’s meeting.