State to continue grain purchase interventions, to begin milk interventions - Medvedev
MOSCOW. Oct 5 (Interfax) - Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has approved the new edition of rules on acquisition of agricultural production for the intervention fund.
"Yesterday I approved the new edition of the rules on purchase of production for the intervention fund. We will continue the grain interventions; we won't stop paying attention to the agricultural sector," Medvedev said in opening the Golden Autumn exhibition in Moscow on Wednesday.
In addition, documents are being drafted for milk interventions. "In other words, there will be a modern legal basis for support of rural areas," he said.
The grain harvest this year is expected to total about 115 million tonnes. "This is the most in 25 years and a record for the entire history of Russian agriculture," he said.
Medvedev pointed out that the Golden Autumn forum had returned to VDNKh, the national economic achievements complex, where, he said, "beginning in Soviet times, the heart-warming tradition of hailing farmers, honoring them, was formed."
"It must be acknowledged that this is an entirely different agriculture now. This is a modern technological agricultural sector," he said, adding that most importantly, it is profitable.
"The sector has demonstrated steady growth in recent years, at a time of economic difficulties, when there are problems in industry and the overall economy. The only sector demonstrating steady growth is agriculture. This is a very significant achievement," he said.
Financing for the agricultural sector next year will be maintained at the current year's level (214 billion rubles), he said. "Despite the challenging budget situation, we plan to maintain investment volumes, the volume of budget financing at the current year's level," he said, adding that although other budget items, except protected items, will be cut.
Russia will also continue on the path of import substitution. "It is providing an excellent result, enabling us to resolve domestic challenges and export agricultural production, develop new areas," he said, noting that this concerns development of the selection seed base, in order to be fully self-sufficient in seeds and pedigree stock.