AIC representatives of the Yaroslavl oblast and experts of the agricultural sector discussed measures of state support, which can be a good tool for development of agricultural enterprises, including organic agriculture in the region.

Last week, the authorities of the Yaroslavl region, agricultural producers and market experts took part in a video conference "What to feed Yaroslaviya". The General partner of the conference was the company "the photo shooting took place", the information partner of the event - chamber of Commerce of the Yaroslavl region.

In Yaroslavl region there are 184 agricultural enterprises, 256 food and processing enterprises, 117 (peasant) farms and 27 agricultural consumer cooperatives. By the end of 2019 the investments in the fixed capital of the agricultural area amounted to 5.8 billion rubles, the Region also actively promotes organic agriculture, it was here started the work of the agricultural holding "the photo shooting took place", which became one of the first organic production of Russia and leaders in the sector.

Yaroslavl oblast support their regional farmers. In 2019 to support agriculture allocated 1.3 billion rubles, of which 672 million rubles from the Federal budget, the rest – regional support.

Evgeny Sorokin, the Director of the Department of agroindustrial complex and consumer market of Yaroslavl region, said that in 2019, the revenues of agricultural enterprises of the region amounted to 34 billion rubles, of which 80% is animal products and another 20 percent crop (forage, potatoes, other vegetables, and flax). The region provides farmers with support. In particular, there are direct cost recovery in the acquisition of technology and its modernisation, for example, refundable up to 30 percent of the cost according to the technique used in the manufacture of linen. "This year in the regional budget laid down 70 million of these costs, - said Evgeny Sorokin. - We have exclusive support, for example, a leasing system for the acquisition of machinery and equipment. In year of purchased equipment in the amount of 600 million roubles, we have provided for 2020, some 360 million rubles for the purchase of equipment. This year, the government adopted the decision on additional capitalization of the Fund of 50 million rubles. To stop the rise in prices in the year 2020, we have also started to work on the system of regional leasing and fertilizers".

Oleg Mironenko, Executive Director of the National organic Union, recalled that in Russia there are 34 million hectares of land suitable for organic agriculture. But so far certified only 369 thousand hectares of them, and used less than 200 thousand hectares. While a large amount of organic land is located in the Yaroslavl region – there are certified organic under 36 thousand hectares of 640 thousand hectares of land.

"In Russia there are only 92 manufacturer's certified organic. And in Lithuania, for example, 2.7 million population is 2400 producers of organic matter. It is a profitable sector of the economy. But to come in without state support difficult, - said Oleg Mironenko. – In addition, part of the organic matter we have in the market – branded. If Russia wants to replace it with our own Russian organics, again the necessary measures of state support of the sector."

But large-scale government support of the organic sector in Russia yet. According to Oleg Mironenko, Yaroslavl oblast, which, along with the Krasnodar territory leads in the volume of organic production and number of organic producers may establish a system of state support of this sector. As an example, the Executive Director of the NOSE resulted in the Voronezh region, where 100 percent subsidize certification processes, 50 percent, purchases of fertilizer, consider the support polytropos and per hectare. In Mordovia also introduced additional per-hectare support for organic. "And if in 2019 in the Voronezh region was not yet organic producers, as soon as the area have signalled their interest in the industry, in the mode conversion includes 8 companies in 2 years they will start to work in organics," - said Oleg Mironenko.

Oleg Mironenko stressed the importance of being created in the Yaroslavl region competence Centre on the basis of the Yaroslavl agricultural Academy, where they will be taught knowledge in organic farming. This underlines the attention of the Yaroslavl authorities to the development of the organic sector, but without financial support, the sector will not be able to grow quickly. "This is a new program which is not in other regions. But the student-organic, after graduating from high school will have somewhere to go to work. So, it is necessary to develop the production of organics," said Executive Director of the NOSE.

Elena Aseeva, the General Director of holding "the photo shooting took place," he agreed that organic enterprises, and not only for beginners in the sector, but also experienced, such as "the photo shooting took place", which works in the organic industry for more than 10 years, we need government support. "For example, we organics can't use chemicals, but can apply the biologics. However, they are more expensive than conventional chemical fertilizers, - said Elena Aseeva. - We can't stimulate the earth with the help of chemicals, so the organics in the returns and yields lower. The loss of this benefit we pay for to get a pure organic product. However, we do not receive subsidies for the purchase of biological preparations, whereas in classical agriculture subsidies of hematobilia. Very necessary and subsidies for certification, this additional cost organics". Elena Aseeva also stressed the necessity of per-hectare and polytropos support and subsidies for the purchase of fuel and lubricants.

Oleg Mironenko suggested the region authorities to discuss possible ways of development of state support of organic producers of the area and market experts. "Our goal is to give the manufacturer to work. And not to keep the price of organics, and to make these products available. The Finns, for example, achieved that the difference in cost between organic and non-organic milk is only 15 percent. And this is the result and creation of the organic processing sector, and the organization of working conditions for producers. Farmers have to understand the economic benefits from working in the organic sector, and that is health and care about nature, then they will come to the sector".

Evgeny Sorokin, in turn, supported this position: "15 percent of the difference in price is the right goal to which we should aspire. It is necessary to strengthen guidance, increase the number of players in the market. Although you need to understand that is a niche subject, organic - the product of mass demand, which imposes its own specifics. But the costs incurred by the manufacturer of organics, really big". Evgeny Sorokin agreed with the necessity of per-hectare support and assistance in the reimbursement of expenses for certification: it will help to saturate the market with organics.

The authorities of Yaroslavl region has shown that it is willing to cooperation and interaction. While state support for organic production will be more, it can be supplied in various public institutions, including kindergartens and schools to the diet of the children were healthy and safe. "I think in the near future we will be able to gather at the site of the competence Center in the Yaroslavl agricultural Academy to discuss the situation and prospects of state support", - said Evgeny Sorokin.