For fruitful cooperation and significant contribution to the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Tatarstan, Alexander Uskov, General Director of the August Group of Companies, was awarded the Duslyk Order. The award was solemnly presented by Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The ceremony took place on March 7 as part of the TatAgroExpo exhibition at an expanded meeting of the final board of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan, dedicated to summarizing the work of the regional agro-industrial complex for 2022 and setting goals for 2023. Earlier on the same day, Rustam Minnikhanov had a working meeting with Alexander Uskov and Aidar Galyautdinov, General Director of the August-Agro Management Company, during which they discussed the implementation of August's investment projects in the region.
The Order "Duslyk" is awarded to citizens for special merits in strengthening the international prestige of the Republic of Tatarstan, friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Tatarstan and foreign states, as well as other constituent entities of the Russian Federation, for a significant contribution to the development of economic, trade, scientific, technical, social, cultural ties , effective investment, charitable and social activities that contribute to the prosperity of the republic.
“Under the current conditions, agriculture is becoming one of the key sectors of the economy, and food security is a guarantee of the country's sovereignty,” Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized at a board meeting.
“From the bottom of my heart I thank Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan for the high appreciation of our contribution to strengthening the agricultural sector of the region and for this award,” said Alexander Uskov after the award was presented to him. “I also want to express my gratitude to everyone who, with their participation and hard work, allows us to implement our most daring agricultural and industrial projects in Tatarstan.”
Alexander Uskov was born on April 24, 1958 in the city of Volkovysk, Grodno region of Belarus. In 1981 he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. From 1981 to 1984 studied at the postgraduate course of the Institute of Chemical Physics of the USSR Academy of Sciences, after which he defended his thesis and was awarded the degree of candidate of chemical sciences. Despite the crisis that engulfed domestic science in the early 90s, and repeatedly received job offers abroad, Alexander Uskov decided to stay in Russia. In 1990, he created the company "August", which within a decade became the leader in providing domestic farmers with chemical plant protection products (CPP). Today, "August" continues to firmly hold a leading position in the industry. The company's production sites include factories in the Republic of Tatarstan and the Chuvash Republic, as well as in the Republic of Belarus and China. In the Moscow region, the company is building the country's largest research center for the development of innovative plant protection products.
The total volume of investments of "August" in business projects in the territory of Tatarstan has already exceeded 24 billion rubles. In 2019, the August-Alabuga plant, located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, began its work. This is the third and most modern production site of the company in the CIS countries. It is focused on the large-scale production of CPPP in liquid formulations, the most convenient, reliable and capable of providing the maximum level of safety in their use. The plant annually increases productivity. At the end of 2022, 20,2 million liters of finished products were produced here: almost 40% more than in 2021. When reaching its full design capacity, August-Alabuga will allow one third to close the need of Russian farmers for CPPP. Through the efforts of the plant, in 2022, it was possible to revive the adult professional football team in the Yelabuga district of the Republic of Tatarstan: the funds allocated by the enterprise were used to provide football players with the necessary sports equipment and create optimal conditions for training for them.
The Republic of Tatarstan is also a priority region for the development of its own agricultural business "Augusta". The land bank of the management company "August-Agro" currently has 194 thousand hectares of arable land in 9 districts of the republic. Abandoned lands are constantly introduced into agricultural circulation. In 2022, the harvest of August-Agro farms in Tatarstan reached 510 thousand tons in gross volume. Last summer, August began construction of its own elevator complex Sviyazhsk-Zernoprodukt on the territory of the Sviyazhsk Interregional Multimodal Logistics Center, and this year another elevator project will be launched in Bugulma. In the Tyulyachinsky district, an own seed plant is being created for the production of elite and highly reproducible seeds of wheat and peas.
The number of cattle on the dairy farms of "Augusta" today is almost 9 thousand animals, including 4300 dairy cows. Modern dairy complexes are being built in the region, and existing ones are being modernized and automated. In 2022, the volume of milk production reached 40 thousand tons, and its gross growth amounted to 62% in annual terms. Farms "August-Agro" provide 1660 jobs. An active social policy is pursued in the areas of presence, an annual program of targeted support for residents of villages and rural settlements and their infrastructure is in place.