Congratulations to the professional holiday!

I congratulate you to Agriculture and Processing Industry Day!

Harvesting is coming to an end; a great amount of work has been done. At the same time agronomists are getting ready for the winter. What results have been achieved this year?

Everyday work of agronomists and favourable weather conditions give us hope that in 2014 grain yield will be over 100 million tons which is much more than it was least year. In comparison with the last year there is a considerable increase in the yield of other crops as well. This enables not only to meet the needs of people living in Russia, but also to broaden export opportunities. A good work of cattle breeders should also be mentioned: the forecasted increase in cattle and poultry production for slaughter is almost 4% in the current year.

A great contribution to increasing of land productivity, exploitation of new lands for farming and protection against negative climatic factors are made by Russian ameliorators. For successful implementation of the goals set in this sphere a special purpose program on amelioration of lands for farming was started this year. It will be carrying out through 2020.

The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin set the main task in his speech – to create favourable conditions for living and working in the rural area. Social development and sustainable development of rural territories are to the major issue for chiefs of municipal districts and regions.

“A pessimist sees difficulties whenever possible while an optimist sees opportunities in any difficulties”, states a famous saying. The present situation in foreign trade and policy opens up new opportunities for Russian AIC and for increasing of production capacity in national agriculture. I am sure that great professional skills of our agronomists, love and devotion to the motherland and a true interest to Russian rural territories will facilitate new outstanding results.

I would like to thank you, my dear colleagues, for your everyday hard work and a great contribution to agricultural safety of our country. I wish you to be healthy, wealthy, happy and loved! My congratulations!

Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation

Nikolai Fedorov