President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov: Population should be provided with qualitative production by reasonable prices

“There are no reasons to raise prices for bread, milk and other necessary products”, - RT President Rustam Minnikhanov said at session of RF State Council Presidium.

The session was chaired by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Saratov city. The key issue for discussion was state of foodstuff market in Russian Federation and measures on its stabilization.

Russian Minister of agriculture Elena Skrynnik made the main report. Dmitry Medvedev announced that there are no any reasons for deficiency and increase in prices for products in Russia. By his words, there is enough grain for inner consumption.

Rustam Minnikhanov also informed that members of working group of RF State Council Presidium absolutely share the opinion of Russian President. But still in some places roaring demand for separate products and speculation are observed. In the first place such situation is caused by expected deficiency and increase in prices for some products because of drought.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, one of the reasons to be confident is the priority national project “Development of agro-industrial complex”. The project has become foundation for stable development of rural areas and decisive factor for providing consumer market with qualitative foodstuff.

As regards Tatarstan, 272 large livestock complexes have been reconstructed and built in republic.

Modern resource-saving technologies and machinery are implemented in crop production sector.

As concerns social aspect of realizing project “Development of agro-industrial complex”, 6621 families in rural areas have obtained housing. By and large, more than 100 bln. roubles were invested into modernization of agro-industrial complex in RT.

Results of realizing the project in republic are as follows: production of agricultural items was increased by 23 %, for the fist six months of 2010 the growth made 2,5 %.

“We suppose that population should be provided with qualitative production by reasonable prices in any conditions, - Rustam Minnikhanov said. That is what anti-crisis program of the current year is aimed at”. “Because of dry weather this year appeared to be very difficult for republic. Gross yield of grain has made 700 000 tons that is by 6-7 times less than usually. Forage provision of livestock sector has made only 70 %. In such conditions the main task is to keep cattle stock, both social and personal one.

By words of Rustam Minnikhanov, more than 200 brigades in various regions are actively working on laying-in of fodder. Moreover, 50 000 tons of potato and 100 000 tons of sugar are to be bought in republic.

As for sowing winter crops, 600 000 hectares will be sowed by September, 10 in Tatarstan.

Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Presidium of Russian government for timely made decision about allocating financial and credit resources for regions suffered from drought.

“We have drawn certain conclusions after such dry period, - we have take into account the role of science, study recommendations of scientists. We also should intensify work on land melioration.

Tatarstan President considers that stability of market depends on presence of production. And we can speak about its quality and availability only if it is home-made.

Along with development of large livestock complexes, we should put much emphasis on personal households, Rustam Minnikhanov said. He thinks it is necessary to create agro-industrial parks in order to help villagers with realization of their production. Such agro-park was opened a week ago in Naberezhnye Chelny city.

Weekend fairs play an important role in stabilization of foodstuff market, Tatarstan president noted. Here commodity producers realize products without any dealers.

Head of Tatarstan suggested to consider issues of regulating import and export reasonably. “Integral and efficient measures on regulating inner foodstuff market will depend on monitoring and attention of federal and local authorities”, - Rustam Minnikhanov announced.