Russia took control of agricultural land abandoned by Ukrainian owners in the Azov region
Abandoned by Ukrainian owners, arable land in the Zaporozhye region was transferred to the management of the state enterprise “State Grain Operator”. In fact, the SZO took on the functions of state regulation of the grain market, providing technical, methodological, legal, and logistical assistance to farmers in the Azov region.
Acting Governor announced this at a press conference in Simferopol. Minister of Economic Development of the Zaporozhye Region Yuri Guskov, reports PolitNavigator correspondent.
“The Zaporozhye region is, first of all, an agro-industrial complex, and all economic issues are connected with land and people,” he noted. – Sowing is limited in time, so during the first year the main emphasis was on working with people - we showed by personal example that now this is the most important thing that we must do.
I can’t say that all the problems were solved, but the process moved forward, people believed us. Russia supported us by supplying equipment, providing competencies, and various mechanisms to support the agro-industrial sector.
The task was to integrate everything in such a complex that the farmer on the land would understand his interest and receive guarantees that the harvest would be appreciated, and there would be enough money to update equipment, buy fertilizers and go to the next sowing season.”
The government's approach in this matter was to create a State Grain Operator, which provides a full range of services for farmers in the territory: a single window for tax registration, receiving government assistance, technical re-equipment, searching for buyers around the world, organizing logistics for transportation both by rail and by sea.
“The main task was to carry out an inventory and build supply chains, to integrate the sector into Russian legislation,” added Svetlana Shevchenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Zaporozhye Region, Minister of Agriculture and Food.
The most important thing for us is people, without whom nothing can be done. Therefore, we set up the work of sowing, harvesting, transition to the tax field, paperwork, receiving subsidies and subventions.
For the Cossacks it was surprising that the state took care of them. They responded and went to work with gratitude.
Much has been done, but more remains to be done. The second sowing season is underway, we are finishing sowing spring crops. The State Unitary Enterprise had to get involved in the abandoned fields - both provide equipment and get involved in the sowing campaign themselves. Everything is included in the system where to get seeds, fertilizers, plant protection. Work is actively underway, and the next task will be to actively market the crop.”
Last year, in the Zaporozhye region, which came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces, 2,2 million tons of grain were harvested, sown on 960 thousand hectares. This is 1 million tons less than the 2021 harvest. But this year the authorities expect to increase the cultivated arable land by 10%, and, accordingly, the harvest.
Over six months, 1,5 thousand agricultural producers were re-registered, 1,3 thousand of them were included in the register of the Zaporozhye region, opened personal accounts and use all available types of assistance, including Rosagroleasing equipment.
“Last year we received Rostselmash combines from the Ministry of Agriculture, and tractors were donated to the State Grain Operator. At GZO they took this route - they hired machine operators and provide services to small farmers who do not have their own equipment, and who previously focused on large farms,” Shevchenko clarified.
She added that the Zaporozhye region is fully provided with seed materials, selection is strong, and the activities of the regional Ministry of Agrarian and Industrial Complex are aimed at reviving selection. The cost of such seed is much cheaper than imported material, which ultimately affects profitability.
During the year of operation, the State Grain Operator brought into circulation an additional 50 thousand hectares of sown areas. This year, the state-owned enterprise has prepared 20 thousand hectares of spring crops for sowing spring crops, including barley, corn, sunflower and peas.
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