Marat Akhmetov: “This year we must provide Russian population with domestic foodstuffs”

A session of the Directorate of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision for the Republic of Tatarstan and the General Directorate for Veterinary of the Tatarstan Cabinet took place today in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan. At the session, the results of work for 2014 and the tasks and prospects for 2015 were discussed.

Representatives of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, representatives of services for supervision from neighboring republics and subdivisions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan also joined the session. Heads of municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan and big agricultural holding companies watched the videoconference. The honored guest was the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Mukhammat Sabirov.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan – the Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan Marat Akhmetov appreciated the work of both subdivisions. “In 2014 they worked well. I have no points of criticism”, he said.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan spoke in details about the rise of prices for foodstuff under the lack of import food. He imagined he was a businessman facing difficulties due to the constantly changing situation.

“Our republic is trying to be a good example for other Russian constituent entities. We have growth dynamics in many spheres. We should continue working this way”, - said the minister.

He asked the representatives of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Republic of Tatarstan to work taking into consideration circumstances and as the occasion requires. During winter holidays on Kazan markets prices for meet started to increase suddenly. “Who is to blame and how can we stabilize the situation?”, asked Marat Akhmetov.

“This year we must make all efforts to mobilize our reserves concerning the increase of agricultural production and provision of population with domestic foodstuffs. That is why it is necessary to solve the problem of preserving and production of cattle population”, the minister set one of the tasks for workers of veterinary services and supervision agencies.

Marat Akhmetov noted that these subdivisions always had to protect agricultural production. He gave an example: 900 cases of concealed loss of cattle were detected in 15 farm households of one of the Tatarstan districts the previous week.

“This is our fault. I am sorry for that case myself – I am a veterinarian, too. That is why this is also my fault, the fault of a minister”, confessed Marat Akhmetov.

He also set some ambitious tasks. About 28% of milk is imported by Russia. “Why doesn’t Tatarstan fill a want under the circumstances of import substitution? We have great reserves. In 2015 we must do our best”, said the minister.