July 2, 2010

It is necessary to increase the capacities of the country's grain production amid cattle breeding development, said Elena Skrynnik, the Minister of Agriculture of Russia.

According to her, new projects in the cattle breeding industry are seen to increase grain consumption by 1.5 million tonnes.

Grains became the strategic export product in the country. Russia takes the fourth place on the world market after the US, the EU and Canada in the sphere of grain exports, stated the minister. The level of supply is estimated at the level of US$4 billion. During the past five years, grain exports increased by almost two times and totalled 23 million tonnes.

Pavel Skurihin, the president of the National Union of Grain Producers, estimated the production potential of Russia, and said that in the next 7-8 years, Russia is able to bring the volume of grain production to the level of 140-150 million tonnes.

The Minister of Agriculture noted that in 2009, grain production totalled 97 million tonnes, which exceeds the average annual indices during recent nine years.

The main tasks and objectives of the founded National Union of Grain Producers of Russia include forming of economic favourable conditions for grain production, stimulating the increase of grain quality and efficiency, representation and protection of interests of the union participants in governmental and municipal bodies, public and international organisations.