Opening the conference, which was held to mark Agriculture and Processing Workers’ Day, Mr Putin noted that the agriculture sector has become profitable and said that this year’s grain harvest came to 65 million tons – more than last year.
One of the biggest tasks facing the country now in the area of food security is to become less reliant on imports, Mr Putin said. The country’s future lies in large-scale expansion of domestic production of different goods, the President said. The foodstuffs and processing industry could become the engine for the entire agricultural sector today.
Mr Putin also stressed the importance for the state of ensuring civilised development of agriculture and attracting investment to the sector.