Agriculture

Agriculture of Smolensk region is typical for non-chernozem zone of Central Russia. The most part of areas are agricultural.

Agricultural  production is  specialized in productive  cattle-breeding and feed production, potato and flax production.

The region has a production and technical potential which may provide effective and competitive development of production of milk, meat, eggs, potatoes, vegetables and fully satisfy needs of consumers.

Strategic ways of development of agriculture in Smolensk region are determined by State program of agricultural development and market for agricultural products, raw materials and food control over a period of 2008 - 2012. They are - development of top-priority branches of agriculture, small business in rural areas, technical and technological reequipment,   improvement   of  human   resources   potential,   development   of  social infrastructure and engineering facilities of rural areas.

For realization of such ways a long-term regional special purpose program is developed and approved «Development of agriculture and market for agricultural products, raw materials and   food   control   in   Smolensk   region».

Realization   of  program   activities   made   it possible to create all required conditions for stable development of agricultural production increased     the     number     of    agricultural commodity   producers   in   the   markets   of financial, material and technical, information recourses,   provided   inflow  of private   investments   for  branch  development.   The abovementioned has increased the investment potential of agricultural sector of the region economy.

917 mln. rubles were spent for program activities, including 470 mln. rubles from the regional budget and 447 mln. rubles from the federal one in 2009. In 2010 more than 1,4 mlrd. rubles from regional and federal budgets are planned to be granted.

Bank credits are actively used for development of production, including material and technical base of agricultural commodity producers of the region. In 2009 they got 3 mlrd. 266 mln. rubles of preferential credits, that is 631 mln. rubles more than in 2008.

State support and vigorous activity of local authorities and agricultural commodity producers made it possible to get some positive production and financial results.

Planted areas in 2009 of all categories made 455,3 thous. ha (101% to the level of 2008), including planted areas of cereal crops and pulse plants - 101 thous. ha (104,1%). New agricultural equipment made it possible to increase the cultivation volume of cereal crops with use of progressive technologies up to 49 thous. hectares, that is more than 48% of planted areas of cereal crops in the region.

In 2009 190,8 thous. tons of grain crops were gathered with its initial weight (107,6 % to the level of 2008), under crop capacity 20,1 per one hectare of the area (105,2% to

the level of 2008); 67,3 thous. tons of vegetables (101,6%) were gathered. In agricultural organizations of the region the total output of potato has made 13,8 thous. tons, that is 2,1 times more than in 2008.

In 2009 49 thous. tons of cattle and poultry were realized, the total output of milk has made 313,1 thous. tons, production of eggs – 232,8 mln. pieces. Average year milk yield per a cow at large and medium-sized agricultural enterprises made 3803 kilograms (108,3% to the level of 2008); calf output per 100 cows made 78 heads.

The achieved level of agricultural production development is characterized by cost parameters. In 2009 agricultural organizations of the region got 240,3 mln. rubles of net profit at cost-effectiveness level 8,4%, specific weight of profitable businesses made 63,8%. In 2008 average monthly salary has increased per 14,5% and made 6488 rubles.

The most developed agricultural organizations are in the districts of Pochinok, Smolensk, Safonovo, Gagarin and Roslavl of Smolensk region. Besides, 16 districts of the region had positive financial results.

Within the national project realization «Development of agriculture» in the region technical and technological reequipment of agricultural production has become a top-priority. For instance, over a period of 2008 – 2009 agricultural consumer producers using preferential investment credits purchased 208 tractors, 30 sowing units, 79 turn wrest ploughs, 106 modern grain combines and feed combines to the amount of 1,5 mlrd. rubles.

In 2009 within the scope of the activities of the State program of agricultural development in Smolensk region 25 investment projects on construction and modernization of the facilities for agricultural use were approved. In 2010 6 investment projects planned to be started in 2010 were sent to the Ministry of agriculture of the Russian Federation for its agreement. The potential investors are offered a consultative and organizational assistance for supporting of investment projects.

Provision of the necessary social facilities is a top-priority for rural territories. In 2008 – 2009 7,2 thous. sq. m of dwellings, including 3,2 thous. sq. m for young families and young specialists were constructed (purchased) in rural areas; 29 kilometers of water supply networks and 222 kilometers of gas supply networks were constructed and reconstructed.

The region Administration pays much attention to the qualification in the experienced personnel for agriculture. At the expense of the regional budget training of specialists for agriculture and their professional development is accomplished.