In the city of Mikhailovsk, Shpakovsky municipal district, on the basis of LLC OPKh Shpakovskoye, under the leadership of the regional Ministry of Agriculture, an information and training seminar was held on the topic "Economics of production of vegetables and potatoes using innovative technologies in the Stavropol Territory."
The seminar was attended by specialists from departments (departments) of agriculture of the administration of municipal districts (urban districts) of the Stavropol Territory, heads and specialists of agricultural organizations and peasant (farmer) farms, GKU "Stavropol SIKTs", a branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhoztsentr", the Association of farms of the Stavropol Territory. In total - about 50 people.
Before the start of the event, the participants got acquainted with the technologies of growing potatoes, white cabbage and broccoli on the farm. They also studied the process of harvesting onions and table carrots.
Since 2016, the open field vegetable growing industry has shown a dynamic increase in sown areas by 4,7 thousand hectares, or by 58% since 2016. This year, the sown area is 12,8 thousand hectares. In this regard, the gross harvest of vegetable products has also increased to 200 thousand tons, or by 25% by 2016 in comparison with 2019. Thanks to investment activity, the use of new technologies and favorable climatic conditions, the yield increased by 18%.
The theoretical part of the event was opened by Vladimir Sitnikov, Minister of Agriculture of the Stavropol Territory.
- Today, on behalf of the Governor of the Stavropol Territory, Vladimir Vladimirov, we are holding a meeting dedicated to the production of vegetables and potatoes. The harvesting of vegetables and early potatoes has already begun and today we need to work out the problematic issues faced by our vegetable growers. The main problems are weak positions in the export of vegetables and potatoes, in the processing and delivery of our products to retail chains. All categories of farms produce about 600 thousand tons of vegetables and potatoes. Of these, 60% is sold from the fields, 33% goes to storage and only 5% ends up in retail chains on the shelves. In addition, 1% of vegetables and potatoes are sent for deep processing and for export. We have learned how to produce high-quality products - now we need to establish close cooperation with our retail chains, - said the minister.
Measures of state support were also discussed at the seminar. To compensate for the production of vegetables and potatoes of the 2019 harvest, 205 million rubles have been allocated this year. The subsidized area is 6,6 thousand hectares, or 65% of the total regional area occupied by vegetables and potatoes.
Another hot topic of the seminar was the discussion of storage capacities. On the territory of the Stavropol Territory there are 27 vegetables and potato storages with a capacity of 126 thousand tons, or 38% of the total production. The low share of equipment for storage and processing of products prevents the Stavropol vegetable grower from entering the "large market" of network and export trade. In this regard, the region continues to implement the State support to compensate for 20% of the costs of construction and modernization of storage facilities. As part of this support, it is planned to commission another storage facility with a capacity of 3,2 thousand tons in the Agroinvest agricultural enterprise of the Ipatovsky GO already this year.
At the end of the seminar, the participants were able to exchange views and proposals for the development of the vegetable growing industry in the Stavropol region.