State support for Russian agricultural sector in 2025 will exceed 0.5 trln rubles - Deputy PM Patrushev

ZHELEZNOVODSK. Aug 22 (Interfax) - State support for the Russian agricultural sector will exceed 0.5 trillion rubles this year, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev said.

"The government has allocated more than half a trillion rubles for the development of the sector in 2025. All main mechanisms of state support are maintained, including preferential lending. Just this week, an additional allocation of 2 billion rubles for subsidizing new loans was approved," Patrushev said at a meeting on agricultural issues in the North Caucasus Federal District on Friday.

The list of support instruments in the agricultural sector continues to be updated. "For example, starting this year, participants and veterans of the special military operation have access to a grant for creating their own farms. Starting from 2026, all measures for farmers and small enterprises will be consolidated into a new federal project, Development of Small Agrobusiness. This will guarantee a separate funding limit. Support will cover key areas of agricultural production, product sales and rural tourism," he said.

The pace of grain harvesting and its yield are higher than last year's, and positive trends are seen in livestock farming, he said. The output of finished products remains at last year's level.

Patrushev recalled that the Russian president has set the industry the task of increasing production by a quarter by 2030 compared to 2021. "To achieve this, the industry must demonstrate positive dynamics in all main areas annually. This requires us to find new points of growth," he said, adding that significant potential for further sector growth has accumulated in the North Caucasus.