The Ministry of Agriculture, together with the regions of the Russian Federation, is developing five-year plans to increase the use of domestic seeds. This was announced during parliamentary hearings in the State Duma by First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Oksana Lut, reports TASS.
“Now we are forming these five-year plans together with the regions, and we will increase the volume of use of seeds of domestic selection in each region every year systematically,” she said.
Lut noted that these are primarily critical crops, including sugar beet, which has only 2% of domestic seeds, as well as potatoes, sunflowers, soybeans and corn. She noted that a very difficult situation with seeds has developed in Russia. With the required indicator of the food security doctrine at 75%, in 2021, the provision with seeds was 65%. In 2022, according to Loot, it has dropped to 60%.
“We have previously imported a lot of foreign seeds since the beginning of the year, when the February situation began. Farmers got scared and took all the necessary measures to bring in more seeds of foreign selection. For us, of course, this situation is unacceptable,” the First Deputy Minister stressed. She also noted that some companies refused to work with Russia, and now the seeds are imported through third countries, but this is also unacceptable, since the supply of such seeds can be stopped at any time.
Lut also noted the need to change the new law on seed production. “In connection with the current situation, it is necessary to determine what seeds of domestic selection are and determine the procedure for working with these seeds in order to stimulate our agricultural producers to use our seeds to a greater extent. Because, of course, it is more convenient for domestic businesses to use what they are used to, and, unfortunately, for these critically important crops, these are seeds of foreign selection. Business should be encouraged to use seeds of domestic selection, and legislative changes are required here, ”the first deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture believes.
She added that the industry needs incentive measures, including an increase in state support for the production and purchase of seeds of domestic selection.