Vladimir Putin's conversation with Alexei Gordeyev:
Vladimir Putin: Go ahead, please.
Alexei Gordeyev: Mr Putin, my report on the current situation will focus on the spring sowing campaign. So far, 27 million hectares, 7 million hectares more than last year and 57% of the planned volume, have been sown for spring crops. It is clear that the weather and the organisational measures taken will allow us to carry out the sowing within the shortest possible period of time, which is halfway to success.
Now sowing is moving to Siberia and we have maintained a strong pace. We have bought enough mineral fertiliser (thanks to the Government's decision to raise export duties) and more fuel and lubricants than last year. Therefore, we can be sure that the yield will be at least 85 million metric tons. This is more than last year, which will allow us to maintain exports at a due level and fully meet our own needs.
Vladimir Putin: We must think about the reserves.
Alexei Gordeyev: Yes, this is one of our tasks.
Vladimir Putin: This must be done in time.
Alexei Gordeyev: This is true. The second important issue is that this is the first year we are implementing the state programme for agricultural development. On the whole, this is the continuation of the priority national project but on a larger scale, and production has been growing in the first quarter. The index of agricultural production was 104.5%, one percentage point higher than last year.
Meat production has increased by 9%, which is a good indicator. Milk production has increased by about 2%, though growth has been registered for two years of implementing the national project. The dynamic is not bad, though with the rising demand for milk products, which has to be met primarily by Russian dairy complexes, special measures must be taken to improve the situation. We will propose such measures at a meeting you are planning to hold in the near future.
On the whole, we can say that the state programme for agricultural development covers nearly all its segments today and has good dynamics and reserves for developing both agriculture and rural areas.
Vladimir Putin: I have a request for you. I know that you are doing it already, but I would like you to coordinate all the necessary decisions with the departments concerned and the Finance Ministry. This should be done in order to take system-based measures for supporting agriculture and satisfying the food market's demand, with due account taken of the fluctuations of global agricultural markets.