ROSTOV-ON-DON, January 20 The situation with the supply of seeds in the Astrakhan region is stable, today up to 70% of the total need for seeds of early-sown vegetables has been provided, reports the regional governor's office.
Earlier, RBC wrote that two large vegetable producing regions — the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions — were faced with the problem of a shortage of imported seeds of tomatoes, carrots and onions before the spring planting season; difficulties could lead to a decrease in the harvest of the largest producer of tomato paste. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation noted on Saturday that the country’s agro-industrial complex is 60% supplied with open-ground vegetable seeds before the sowing season, which corresponds to last year’s level; procurement continues with an emphasis on domestic selection. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Astrakhan Region informed that up to 70% of the total need for seeds of early sown vegetables has already been provided. The work itself on the import of vegetable seeds continues and is carried out taking into account the sowing dates of specific crops and their varieties and hybrids.
«»The situation with the supply of seed material in the Astrakhan region is stable. The provision of farmers with material and technical resources is under special control Ministry of Agriculture of the Astrakhan Region,» the message says.
It is noted that the region is solving the problem of forming a supply of seeds necessary for sowing work: up to 70% of the total need for seeds of early-sown vegetables has already been provided, which corresponds to the level of last year. The purchase of seed material continues.
In turn, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery Industry of the Astrakhan Region has been actively working with domestic companies for the last three years to reduce dependence on foreign seeds and popularize varieties bred by Russian breeders.
Funds have been allocated from the regional budget for state support to reimburse the costs of growing seed crops of vegetable and melon crops and reimburse the costs of registering new varieties of domestic selection with the State Variety Commission in the amount of 80%.