Developing the country’s grain market, effective state policy in the agriculture sector, and the preliminary results from the autumn harvest were the subjects on the agenda.
The President noted that this year’s grain harvest will yield more than 90 million tons in total around the country – enough to cover domestic demand and enable Russia to maintain its export potential.
The package of anti-crisis measures taken by the Government has stabilised the situation in the agriculture sector. The decision to provide agricultural producers with fuel and lubricants and mineral fertilisers on preferential terms was particularly important in this respect.
On the subject of agriculture sector development, the President said that the sector needs to increase its grain storage and transportation capacity. This includes increasing grain handling capacity at Russia’s Far East ports. Furthermore, urgent modernisation is needed in the foodstuff and processing industries. Modern information technology also needs to be developed actively throughout the agriculture sector.
The President said that one of the sector’s biggest priorities today is to produce at least three quarters of total demand for seeds of all the country’s main crops in order to reduce dependence on imports and guarantee Russia’s food security. Mr Medvedev set a deadline of one month for drawing up a draft law on improving the use of agricultural land.
Earlier in the day, the President held a working meeting with Orel Region Governor Alexander Kozlov.
Mr Medvedev got an overview of the local agriculture industry during his visit to the region, visiting a grain silo, inspecting models of agricultural equipment, and observing the harvest of different crops, in particular corn and sugar beet.
While in the town of Maloarkhangelsk, the President laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in honour of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.