The Ministry of Agriculture considers it necessary to introduce new varieties of potatoes in Russia and has already prepared a subprogram for the development of its breeding. Now in Russia, mainly varieties of foreign breeders are grown. The transition to domestic tubers will cost 12,2 billion rubles, but will help overcome import dependence.
The draft government decree on the approval of the subprogram "Development of potato breeding and seed production in the Russian Federation" implies the development of "promising domestic potato varieties" and the provision of new equipment for vegetable growing enterprises for these purposes. The document, which Izvestia got acquainted with, was prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture. The new subprogram will become part of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture for 2017–2025.
According to the project, it is assumed that scientists will conduct at least 150 tests of new species and hybrids of potatoes in five different natural and climatic zones of Russia. The goal is "to identify promising domestic varieties that are most in demand for subsequent introduction into production." Among the expected results of the subprogram is a decrease in the level of import dependence of the industry, the introduction of new technologies for the selection and production of potato seeds, the creation of at least 17 new scientific departments in this area. For all these purposes, the Ministry of Agriculture needs over 12 billion rubles. Of these, in 2017 - 588,9 million rubles, in 2018 - 1,4 billion.
The press service of the Ministry of Agriculture told Izvestia that “the successful implementation of the subprogram will allow by 2025 not only to create new varieties of potatoes using modern breeding methods, but also increase the annual production of planting material for domestic varieties of the“ elite ”category.
According to the ministry, potato growing in Russia is focused on the domestic market. Annually our country produces about 4-5 million tons of table potatoes, up to 1 million tons of seed, the same amount goes for processing. The import of this product is about 500 thousand tons per year. Export does not exceed 100 thousand tons.
Experts note that most of the potatoes sown in Russia are a product of foreign selection.
- We have problems with seed potatoes. We buy more than half of it abroad. Mainly in Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Poland. We do not have a serious scientific and technical base, modern infrastructure for seed production. Therefore, the resolution prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture is very timely, ”said Sergei Korolev, President of the National Union of Vegetable Producers, to Izvestia.
He also said that it is not possible to do without seed help precisely because seed producers are not ready to invest money in this direction themselves.
- This is too large, long-term payback investment. Moreover, the result of such investments will not necessarily be positive: you can engage in breeding and get a negative result without achieving what you want. Therefore, there is nowhere in seed production without the help of the state, - Sergey Korolev explained.
The press service of the State Commission of the Russian Federation for Testing and Protection of Breeding Achievements Izvestia was told that in 2016 12 new varieties of potatoes were bred in Russia. And for January-August 2017 - nine varieties. Over the past five years, domestic breeders have created 44 new types of these vegetables. The commission could not clarify whether they were introduced into production.
The Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture for 2017–2025 was approved by a government decree of August 25, 2017. The document provides for the creation of conditions for scientific and technical activities, attraction of investments in the agricultural industry, the creation and implementation of new seed production technologies, as well as the improvement of the agricultural personnel training system.
Source: https://iz.ru