Russia raised agricultural output 2.9% in 2023 - minister

MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Russia raised agricultural output 2.9% in 2023, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said.

"We continue to increase our own production. The agricultural output index for 2023 is estimated at 102.9%," Patrushev said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said the grain harvest was 147 million tonnes in 2023.

This year's spring field work is already underway. "Farmers in the South and North Caucasus are top-dressing winter crops. The total area under winter crops this year is 20 million hectares," the minister said. "And it should be mentioned that more than 94% of crops, according to our latest monitoring, are in good and satisfactory state. This is more than a year ago," he said.

Patrushev said that on the whole, the area under crops will grow by 300,000 hectares in 2024. "We need to reach 84.5 million hectares," he said.

He said farmers had all means at their disposal for sowing. "We plan for our sowing campaign to proceed as usual," Patrushev said.

Regarding meat and dairy production, he said meat production last year increased by 300,000 tonnes and milk by 800,000 tonnes. "According to our preliminary data, our output of finished products increased nearly 6% last year. I'm referring to vegetable oils, sugar, cereals, dairy, meat and confectionery," Patrushev said.

He said 558 billion rubles would be allocated for the agro-industrial and fishery complex, as well as the development of rural areas, in 2024. Funds are already being transferred to farmers, including by advance mechanism. This mechanism was developed back in 2022, "and accordingly, farmers have the opportunity to receive money for spring field work, when they need it most," the minister said.

He also said soft loans were still possible, despite a fairly high Central Bank of Russia key rate.

"We hope that the measures taken will enable the agro-industrial complex to preserve its status as one of the most dynamic sectors," he said.