Mr Putin said that the current harvest promised to fully meet Russia’s demand for food grain and fulfil commitment on export contracts despite bad weather and natural disasters in some parts of the country.
He expressed satisfaction with changes in agriculture as a multifaceted rural economy was emerging, new technologies and financial structures were implemented, and the relevant legislation was modernised. The agro-industrial complex, on the whole, was losing its notoriety as a permanently stagnant or stunted economic sector, he stressed. Russia demonstrated practical improvements and the year before it emerged in the world grain market as an exporter.
However, the President pointed out acute agricultural problems: several million hectares of arable land still remained unused, the stock of tractors and other farm machines leaved much to be desired, and there was no effective concept of land reclamation.
Mr Putin spoke for thought out decisions in anti-monopoly regulation and tariff policies, and called to establish integrated companies bringing together the production, processing and sale of agricultural products.