Rustam Minnikhanov: Any agricultural business requires support

On February 19 at a summary session of Tatarstan Ministry of Agriculture and Food on results of development of Tatarstan agricultural industry and increasing efficiency of agricultural production in 2014 Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that agro-industrial complex is a very important industry that requires competent systemic work.

Before the session Rustam Minnikhanov visited the exhibition of agricultural machinery and produce, expositions of 17th exhibition “Agricultural complex: Interagro. Animed. Farmer of Volga region”, and 14th exhibition “Volgaprodexpo” within the framework of Volga agro-industrial forum.

Rustam Minnikhanov reminded that meetings on prospects and problems of Tatarstan agricultural industry that are held twice a year have become traditional. Summing up results of 2013, he said there was a slowdown in global economic growth that had an impact on Tatarstan economy. The GRP made 1.5 trillion rubles.

Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that because of unfavourable weather conditions the expected harvest and financial results were not achieved. The competition in the sphere of agriculture has become severe, and ambitious tasks are to be realized due to Russia’s membership in WTO.

“We opened new markets and it turned out that we could not compete with westerns producers because Europe and America have a competitive advantage. There are 500 small and medium-size agricultural enterprises in the republic, and every 6th is unprofitable,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.
Tatarstan President considers development of family farms to be a new prospective area.

Tatarstan Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov made a keynote report at the session.