Irina Gekht, deputy head of Russia's Federation Council Committee for Agricultural and Food Policy and Management of Nature, a senator of the Chelyabinsk Oblast, has talked about agricultural development in Russia at the Tribune broadcast. The senator noted that one of the problems with agricultural land in Russia was its nonexploitation. Together with senator of the Smolensk Oblast Anatoly Mishnev, she proposed to reduce the terms of recognition of land as nonexploited from three to two years.
The initiative needs approval of the government. Gekht wants tougher land laws.
Concerning import substitution, the senator noted that imports of food dropped by 6 billion this year, compared to the previous year. Industry needs long-term laws with an interest rate of 5-7%. Gekht believes that Russia should produce own machinery for agriculture.
The official reminded that subsidies for agricultural equipment increased from 15% to 25%. Belarusian equipment will be used more actively.
