Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Mr Merkushkin, overall, the situation in your republic is developing well. Recent years have seen a noticeable movement in the construction industry, which is very encouraging. You have completed 13% more housing, isn't that so?
Nikolai Merkushkin: Yes.
Vladimir Putin: That's not bad. And industrial production growth is twice the national average.
Nikolai Merkushkin: And agriculture, despite the drought. Crop production has been seriously affected, which is understandable. But livestock saw a 15% increase in meat production year-on-year, as well a 7% growth in milk production and a 12% increase in egg production.
Vladimir Putin: What is the animal feed situation in your republic?
Nikolai Merkushkin: We're having a hard time with feed. We currently get it from different parts of the country, from neighbouring regions, although they too have been affected by the drought. But we have one of the greatest concentrations of livestock in the country, that is, in terms of the livestock population per hectare of arable land. A lot of livestock. So now have to get feed from everywhere and prepare it on site. Sunflowers and corn are sold in the soil. Our combine harvesters go there to harvest it, we transport it back for storage in our republic.
Vladimir Putin: We need to expedite grain sales from the Reserve Fund.
Nikolai Merkushkin: Yes. I am also being asked questions - say, should I establish breeding stock for pork or chicken? Should I work to maintain this growth momentum, or not?
Vladimir Putin: Will there be feed or not.
Nikolai Merkushkin: Yes. If we procure it from outside, say from Krasnodar, we have to pay almost 50% more per tonne; well, not 50%, 30% of this additional cost is for transporting it. Nevertheless, we are now trying to get grain from Stavropol. Of course, it is very important whether or not we receive grain from the Intervention Fund, and if we do then how much. But we would like to maintain the same growth rates we've had over the last five or six years.
Vladimir Putin: Have you drawn up a claim?
Nikolai Merkushkin: Yes.
Vladimir Putin: Have you already filed it?
Nikolai Merkushkin: Yes, we have.
Vladimir Putin: We'll deal with it.