UFA, September 4 (Itar-Tass) — Federal aid for the development of dairy cattle was increased by 40 percent this year as against 2010, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik told reporters this week. She attended the All-Russian festival “Milk Country-2011” in Ufa.
The minister noted that the federal budget has appropriated 18 billion roubles for the development of dairy livestock. This sector is one of basic in agriculture and an important sphere for ensuring the country’s food security. Therefore, “we shall continue implementing projects, aimed at boosting production of milk and dairy products,” Skrynnik said.
According to the minister, the situation in the domestic milk market is stable on the whole. This was largely preconditioned by implementing economically important regional programmes on development of dairy cattle.
At the same time, taking into account the fact that under the doctrine of food security, Russia is to provide itself with milk by 90 percent, much should be done as yet, the minister emphasised.
The signing of an agreement between the Agriculture Ministry and the Bashkortostan Republic was one of important moves in this direction. The document provides for cooperation in working out and implementing the economically important republican programme “Development of dairy cattle and increase in milk production. All-out modernisation of 500 dairy commercial farms in the Bashkortostan Republic in 2012-2016”.
The minister noted that the country built 420 new complexes and farms for milk production over the past five years as well as modernised and reconstructed 1,371 facilities.