Dmitry Patrushev: the Russian government is taking measures to support farmers and optimize grain logistics

MOSCOW, September 8 - RIA Novosti. Overstocking in the grain-producing regions of Russia cannot be allowed, so the Cabinet of Ministers keeps logistics issues under special control, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev.

Patrushev held a meeting on measures to support agricultural producers with the participation of the head of the Ministry of Agriculture Oksana Lut, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Russia, the Federal Tax Service, the Federal Antimonopoly Service and other interested departments and organizations.

“First of all, overstocking should not be allowed in grain-producing regions. In this regard, issues of optimizing the logistics of agricultural products are under the special control of the Russian government,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He recalled that a set of support measures has been developed, and some are already being implemented.

Thus, at the end of August, the government additionally allocated about 10 billion rubles to subsidize rail transportation of agricultural products from regions with traditionally high harvest volumes. In addition, duties on grain exports will be canceled, and the maximum duty on vegetable oil and meal will be fixed at the level of August 2026.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that a set of additional measures has been formed to support agricultural producers. Among other things, the Cabinet of Ministers determines the amount of per-hectare financial support for farmers to partially compensate for the costs of winter sowing. It is also planned to extend short-term preferential loans and preferential leasing agreements for grain producers from regions where the collected volumes significantly exceed consumption.

In addition, the introduction of a temporary moratorium on the bankruptcy of farmers and the preservation of their status as agricultural producers even in the event of a forced lack of grain sales are being discussed.

The Russian government is also considering the possibility of conducting government procurement interventions. This mechanism is aimed at stabilizing domestic prices for grain crops and helping farmers sell their products.