Land use, agriculture, rational use and reproduction of natural resources, geological study of the subsoil, environmental protection, veterinary and phytosanitary well-being - all these areas are in the sphere of the PMR Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Ministry is responsible for improving the legal framework and keeps practical implementation of legislation under control. The structure of the ministry is multidisciplinary. It consists of 10 offices and 3 departments. The staff of the apparatus is 119, according to Minister Efimy Koval. He reminded about the reorganization, liquidation of a number of state institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture, optimization of the activities of SUEs.
The head of the department devoted a large block of the report to land use. According to Efimy Koval, the total area of Pridnestrovian lands exceeds 367 thousand hectares, almost 263 thousand of agricultural use. The redistribution fund currently consists of 18 thousand hectares (10%). The rest of the land is assigned to farmers. The Ministry is constantly working to identify additional land resources suitable for agricultural use. Supervisory powers were transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2018. The cases of irrational and inefficient use of land, as well as non-payment of taxes were revealed. More than ten protocols on administrative violations were drawn up during the year. With respect to a number of negligent farmers, a procedure has been opened to forcibly terminate the right to use land. Efimy Koval also told about the practice of investment encumbrances on land users. It is about the sum of 220 million rubles. 14 million investment funds are directed to the development of village infrastructure.
As for the structure of sown areas: 59% of arable land is allocated for grain and leguminous crops, more than a third is occupied by industrial crops, 3% of the area is sown with fodder crops, 1% - with potatoes and melons. Such a distribution suggests that Pridnestrovian agrarians rely on quickly paying back projects. The task for the future is the development of vegetable and livestock, said Efimy Koval. To date, sweet corn (51%) and green peas (21%) are at their best in the vegetable industry. The ministry is engaged in a dialogue with agricultural producers, trying to work out an algorithm for further mutually beneficial interaction between the state and farmers, the minister said.
Gardens dominate among perennial plantations - 64%. Then the vineyards follow (29%). Nut and mulberry plantations, together with berries make up only 7% of the area of perennials. The uprooting of old orchards and vineyards (675 hectares per year) continues, new ones are laid (250 hectares). The Minister drew attention to the fact that farmers have shown interest in such perennial plantings as walnut and almonds, essential oil crops (sea buckthorn and lavender), as well as berries (mainly garden strawberries) in recent years.
At the end of the year, good yields were recorded. The exceptions are potatoes and vegetables in open ground. The situation with grains is worse than, for example, in 2016, but on the whole, the volume of harvested grain allows us to satisfy the nationwide need, Efimy Koval reported.
The minister spoke about the significance of the development of the ameliorative complex. He noted that last year ten new wide-range sprinklers were installed. Their total value exceeds $ 1 million. It was possible to increase the area of irrigated land thanks to concessional lending and reduction in the tariff for the provision of irrigation services. At the same time, Efimy Koval noticed that in five years 50 pumping stations of the state institution “Pridnestrovian irrigation systems” failed. No major repairs have been carried out on land-reclamation facilities for over two decades. The efficiency of outdated hydraulic structures is extremely low, and their energy intensity is unreasonably high. The 2019 budget provides 3.5 million rubles to support the agro-industrial complex, two of which are supposed to be spent for development of the land-improvement complex. The industry is in dire need of these funds, the minister said, expressing hope for full funding.
The head of the department focused on the aspect of soil fertility preservation. This issue is receiving increased attention. The leading role is played by the Research Institute of Agriculture. In 2018, soil analysis was carried out on the area over 30 thousand hectares. Quarantine objects are detected. A list of approved pesticides and agrochemicals has been formed. A register of breeding achievements has been approved - a kind of data bank, which includes 1800 main and 300 promising varieties and hybrids allowed for use in Pridnestrovie. Scientific innovations are being introduced. Training events, seminars, presentations, meetings of round tables with the participation of scientists and industry specialists from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova are held.
Important component in the structure of agriculture in Pridnestrovie is animal husbandry. In general, the cattle population has been keeping for the last three years at the level of 16 thousand. In the absence of development in quantitative terms, improvement in quality indicators is planned: livestock organizations are updating the gene pool at the expense of breeding animals brought from abroad. Positive dynamics are outlined in pig breeding. The livestock during the year has grown from 26 thousand to 35.2 thousand heads. The development of the industry was promoted by the introduction of restrictions on the import of pork in neighboring countries. Livestock sheep farms increased by 38% over the past year. Slight decline was recorded in the poultry industry (the number of birds decreased by 6%). A serious reduction in volumes is observed in the production of chicken eggs (24% of level 2017). Milk produced 10% more than in 2017. It is noted that the productivity of animals in agricultural organizations is growing, but in the peasant farm enterprise is at a low level. For the maximum realization of the genetic potential of animals, appropriate conditions for their maintenance are required, which means financial resources for the development of peasant farms. In this regard, the state has taken a number of support measures. Milk purchase prices are increased. Growth will continue in the current year (+ 4%). Subsidized payments for the delivery of milk for industrial processing have been introduced. The size will grow in 2019 to one ruble per liter. Producers and processors of agricultural products enjoy a preferential tariff for gas supply and electric power services. Preferential loans are practiced.
Efimy Koval told about the situation with share payments, noting that the calculation was made in 90% of cases. The minister spoke about the basic plans for the development of agro-industrial complex of Pridnestrovian industrial complex, indicating that the corresponding state program, designed for 8 years, is under consideration by the Supreme Council. The document was adopted in the first reading. An important guideline is the provisions of Strategy 2026. The primary tasks are the creation of conditions for the intensification of investment in the agro-industrial sector and the innovative development of agriculture, food self-sufficiency of the republic, improvement of the rural infrastructure, development of rural tourism.
The Deputy Minister Lyudmila Pilkova made a report on the situation in the sphere of environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources during extended meeting of the Collegium. Taking into account that the 2019th was declared in Pridnestrovie as the Year of Ecology and Improvement, she focused on the events planned in this regard. Planting of 41 hectares of trees and shrubs, as well as forests in the State Forest Fund (130 hectares) is among them. 70 thousand rubles will be allocated from the Republican Ecological Fund for the creation of one new and arrangement of a dozen existing recreational and park zones.
After listening to the speakers, the President noted the importance of the agricultural sector and voiced his position on a number of aspects related to the agro-industrial complex and the activities of the relevant ministry. According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, the state of the Pridnestrovian economy in the future will directly depend on the situation in the agro-industrial complex and on the attitude to the land. The head of state is confident that the agricultural and processing industries should be the basis of the republic’s GDP. The prudent and efficient use of land resources is important, the President emphasized. He recalled that the state strategic planning identified three main areas related to the development of agriculture, food security, socio-economic development of rural areas and rural tourism. Vadim Krasnoselsky assigns an important role to the state program. He noted that the recommendations voiced today should be reflected in the draft of this document that is under consideration by the Supreme Council. Another moment to which the President has paid attention is the formation of a land cadastre. According to Vadim Krasnoselsky, land owned by the state should be taken into account. Despite the cost of the process, it is necessary to implement this project of state significance, and without delay. The President said that the mechanism of deprivation of the right to use the allocated land in relation to negligent farmers should be simplified. The ineffective attitude, the deliberate underestimation of land use efficiency indicators, the transfer of the areas allocated by the state to sublease are all unacceptable, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized. As for successful and conscientious farmers, in order to simplify their activities, according to the President, a clear set of rules is needed for use of Pridnestrovian land.
The President mentioned the topics of priorities in agriculture. According to him, the state cannot and should not demand preferences from farmers, but must create conditions for agricultural producers to be interested in investing not only in quickly paying back the cultivation of grain successfully exported abroad, but also in such sub-sectors as vegetable growing and animal husbandry. One of the most important tasks is the development of ameliorative complex. Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized that work in this direction is underway. It is important that farmers understand that, for example, reduced price for irrigation water costs the state 15-20 million rubles a year (with a tariff of 70 kopecks per liter, the cost of electricity for the delivery of this water is 1.24 rubles). Redeeming the difference is one of the measures of support for the AIC. Entrepreneurs should be aware that interaction should be mutually beneficial, and movement should be reciprocal. The President recalled such forms of support as preferential loans, subsidies, grants.
Speaking about food security, Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that he considers a good self-sufficiency indicator for agricultural products at the level of 60%. Importing vegetables that can be grown on your own land is unacceptable, Vadim Krasnoselsky emphasized.
The President mentioned the topic of deforestation, noting that unpleasant incidents occur from time to time. He recalled the requirement to coordinate each decision with the local leadership and inform the Administration of the PMR President about the plans. Speaking about the government resolution in force in this area, Vadim Krasnoselsky noted the imperfection of this legal act and instructed to finalize it. The President has questions regarding the content of the order of the Ministry of Agriculture, which regulates the collection of case forest by individuals. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted the lack of appropriate instructions. The flaw should be corrected without delay, the President emphasized.
Among the areas of which the President spoke in his speech are gardening and the use of mineral resources. There are some rough edges that require systemic corrections. Rural tourism did not remain without attention. This sector has been mastered extremely poorly, and the potential of the direction is great. Rural tourism is an important and promising direction. We have something to show: large agricultural producers, vineyards, farms are interesting, and therefore will be in demand and cost-effective. It is necessary to promote our agriculture by means of tourism. In addition, the President considers development of rural infrastructure extremely important. Vadim Krasnoselsky reminded of the significant work being done in the villages as part of the capital investment program. The President spoke about the interaction of officials with the public and business community. The dialogue should be systematic, the Head of State emphasized. “People know better. They are aware of the problems and see ways to solve them. We must listen and hear the society”, the President is sure.
Concluding his speech, Vadim Krasnoselsky expressed gratitude to all who develop the agriculture of the republic, working on the land and in ministerial offices. “Your work is undoubtedly successful, but we all have something to work on and to strive for,” the President concluded.
