The growth of prices on fuels and lubricants (POL) reduces the profitability of agricultural production in Stavropol companies, the cost of diesel fuel in the region increased by 18% since the beginning of the year, told reporters on Tuesday the Minister of agriculture of Stavropol region Vladimir Sitnikov.

"More than 18%, the price rose in the course of this year, 30% the average price rose compared with the 2017 year. Speaking in absolute figures, in order to purchase only diesel fuel to harvest, farmers need to spend 6.5 billion roubles. This will affect the cost of production, profitability. Now the task is to find the optimum, which will allow the current conditions to maintain profitability," said Sitnikov.

The Governor of the region on the eve instructed the regional authorities to prepare an appeal to the government to support agricultural producers.

"We want any option - be it compensation or quota on the volume of fuel and lubricants for agricultural production. The result is important to the price for agricultural producers was not a market," said Sitnikov.

Previously, the Russian government has instructed the Finance Ministry to consider reducing the excise tax on gasoline by 3 thousand rubles per ton and 2 thousand rubles per ton for diesel that will hold back the growth of prices on Russian domestic market. The experts note that the reduction in excise duties will affect regional budgets.