Investment in Russian dairy sector to reach 100 bln rubles in 2013-2020 - ministry
MOSCOW. March 27 (Interfax) - Investment in Russia's dairy industry will total 100 billion rubles from 2013 to 2020.
The Russian Agriculture Ministry reported that Agriculture Minister Elena Skrynnik named the amount at the III congress of the National Union of Milk Producers in Moscow on Tuesday.
During that period there are plans to build 64 processing companies and reconstruct 296 plants. Production of whole-milk products should increase 20% by 2020, cheese production 30% and butter - 40%, she said. These measures will be implemented in line with the strategy for developing the food and processing industry to 2020.
There are 36 economically relevant regional dairy cattle programs planned for 2012 with total funding of 9 billion rubles, including 1 billion rubles from the federal budget, Skrynnik said. Production growth will total 587,000 tonnes.
"This target support instrument will encourage milk production in the regions," the minister said.
Industry development will also be aided by the allocation of 1 billion rubles for acquisition of breeding animals, subsidized investment loans for construction and upgrading of production and logistics capacity, development of household farms and other measures. There are plans to build 1,350 farms by 2020 and almost 25,000 farmers that are starting out will obtain grants of up to 1.7 million rubles.
The measures proposed will help replace imports by a volume of 6.2 million tonnes and increase consumption of milk and dairy products to 259 kilograms per head per year.
Direct support for the dairy industry will exceed 5 billion rubles in 2012 and the volume of loans raised will reach around 20 billion rubles.