[Regnum] Russian President Vladimir Putin said that this year Russia will increase the production of meat, fish, milk, and will also receive a good harvest of grain, vegetables and fruits.
“Last year, a record volume of grain was collected in history—almost 158 million tons,” the head of state said in a video message on the occasion of Agricultural and Processing Industry Workers’ Day.
According to the president, this year the country will again receive a good harvest of grains and oilseeds, vegetables and fruits, and will increase the production of meat, milk, and fish. As Putin noted, Russian farmers provide the domestic market with all major types of food.
The President added that Russian agricultural products are among the key export items.
The President also called it important to improve the quality of life in rural areas. As the head of state emphasized, the authorities will continue to strengthen the social sphere of the village, including healthcare, education and culture systems, update and lay roads and utility networks, carry out gasification of populated areas, and also build housing to ensure a modern, comfortable life in the village.
At the end of the video message, Putin congratulated agricultural and processing industry workers on their professional holiday and wished them all the best.
As Regnum reported, in September, at a meeting with the head of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin said that a good grain harvest is expected in Russia in 2023 - 130 million tons. The Russian leader also noted that Russia's export potential will remain at the level of 60 million tons of grain. The head of state added that Turkey is a big partner of Russia with a large-scale flour-grinding industry.
In August, Putin signed a decree on a special procedure for making payments under foreign trade contracts for the supply of agricultural products. The document provides for a mechanism for export trade of Russian agricultural products for rubles through special accounts.
Russia intends to help the development of the African continent and take a responsible approach to the supply of agricultural products. Putin promised in July that Moscow would increase supplies of agricultural products to African countries, despite restrictions imposed on its exports. According to him, in 2022, Russia sent 11.5 million tons of grain to African countries, and in the first six months of this year alone - almost 10 million tons.