While visiting the plant, Mr Putin spoke to the workers and inquired whether the situation at Rostselmash had changed compared to his previous visit in December 2008. At that time, the plant was in extreme difficulty due to the declined demand for agricultural machinery. As a result, the management had to reduce production and cut jobs. The workers told the Prime Minister that things had changed for the better. In May, Rostselmash switched to a 6-day working week, thus operating more intensely.

"Yes, I am aware of that. Today, we will inspect the effectiveness of the implemented measures," Mr Putin said. During his visit to the plant in December, the Prime Minister took a number of important decisions to support Russian agricultural machinery producers.

Mr Putin asked Rostselmash executive director Valery Maltsev what the current average salary was at the plant. Mr Maltsev said the average salary had gone up and was 20,000 roubles per month.

Mr Putin also inquired about the shipment of machinery to the regions. Mr Maltsev responded that approximately 500 harvesters had yet to be sold because agricultural enterprises were having difficulties in obtaining loans to purchase machinery.

"Rosselkhozbank has very strict credit terms, Mr Maltsev said. "Why is this?" Mr Putin asked. "There are several main reasons for this. The bank takes a very long time to consider the loan applications and quite frequently denies them," Rostselmash director explained.

Mr Putin also familiarised himself with the machinery produced at the plant. He was shown the most recently designed Torum corn harvester. The Prime Minister took a test drive of the harvester. He started the engine, sounded the horn twice, and lifted the corn-harvesting header. "You are now ready to go and work," Mr Putin concluded, addressing the workers.

The Prime Minister also surveyed the production lines of the TagAZ Taganrog Automobile Plant.