''We have the instruction at the level of the Russian Federation not to raise the price for bread without indexation''

Lower price — less milk and meat

The presentation by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Tatarstan Rishat Khabipov, who was to report on the situation in the subordinate sector, was preceded by Chairman of the Committee Takhir Khadeev by reminding of the recent message of the president, which stated about the necessity of deep processing of products, and that ''it is our missed opportunity''. He expressed concern that agricultural products are still processed outside the republic, and mentioned that the results of the villagers this year have been affected by a drought, especially in the Volga region.

Khabipov reported that the grain harvest this year has been completed with a threshing of 3,7 million tonnes (26 quintals per hectare), and the lack of moisture was a ''limiting factor''. The harvest is not over: it is still necessary to harvest corn from 87,000 hectares and almost half of the area of sugar beet. It is expected to collect a total of 2,2 million tonnes from 64,000 hectares.

''The animal husbandry worked in conditions of shortage of purchase prices, and this, of course, seriously affected the results of economic and financial activities,'' stated the deputy minister. ''In the total monetary share – 40 billion rubles — 30 billion account for the share of livestock, but it is only 93 per cent of the last year result. Our main income is ''milk'' money… Subsidies from the republican budget and the budget of the Russian Federation of 2,4 billion rubles allowed our farms to survive a decline in purchase prices for milk… The average purchase price for milk in the first half of the year was only 18,7 rubles per kilogram — below last year's 4,5 rubles! A decrease of almost 20 per cent… The expected increase in the purchase price of milk in July did not take place, today they are behind last year's 3 rubles… The meat prices froze at the level of three years ago and today also do not tend to increase.''

''Unfortunately, over 9 months, we have lost almost a million tonnes of grain,'' Khabipov continued stating the ''sad'' achievements

The lack of positive price dynamics led to a decrease in indicators — for milk production in the first quarter of 2018, there was an increase of 3 per cent compared to last year, over the six months the growth was only 1 per cent, and over the first 8 months — only 0,1 per cent.

''Unfortunately, over 9 months, we have lost almost a million tonnes of grain,'' Khabipov continued to report on the ''sad'' achievements. ''It will affect the results of milk production for 9 months. We reduced cattle meat by 1 per cent in the first half of the year. The indicators in animal husbandry by regions are even more polar. If advanced even in these conditions maintained positive dynamics of growth of production of milk, where in the past the attitude to animal husbandry was mediocre, the decline in volumes — by tens of per cent.''

''Bread price will rise''

At the end of the meeting of the committee, the correspondent of Realnoe Vremya asked Rishat Khabipov the question whether we should expect an increase in the price of bread in retail:

''The prices of bread will rise, but slightly,'' the deputy minister confirmed, however refused even to think of an order of figures. ''There is the instruction at the level of the Russian Federation not to raise the price for bread without indexation. More specifically about the situation we will report later.''

''And how will the situation in the agricultural sector be affected by the expected sharp increase in fuel prices next year?''

''We purchase fuel for agricultural producers at preferential prices, we have such opportunity for the next year as well.''

A potential investor who is ready to take up the processing of glass containers, which the modern sanitary standards, unlike the Soviet ones, prohibit to wash and re-use, according to Schadrikov — is not from Tatarstan…

Waste into income

The discussion of the draft law on the budget of the republic for 2019 and the planning period of 2020-2021 led to a not profile, but very topical issue. After Deputy Minister of Economy Ayrat Shamsiev acquainted the participants with the forecast of social and economic development of Tatarstan, Takhir Khadeev reminded about the need to launch, finally, in the republic the recycling mechanisms and addressed to Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Alexander Schadrikov:

''What does the ministry of ecology provide?''

''It is not our task,'' the minister responded mechanically, but then in a barely audible voice began to tell about that the work was underway.

Familiar with everything deputies understood everything perfectly, but journalists who understood almost nothing surrounded Schadrikov at the end of the meeting. Mr. Schadrikov said that the republic is actively looking for investors who are ready to organize the processing of cullet, and there are entrepreneurs who have already established a business for the processing of plastic waste. As an example he cited businessman Nikolai Atlasov from Naberezhnye Chelny, successfully processing plastic bottles and waste paper.

A potential investor who is ready to take up the processing of glass containers, which the modern sanitary standards, unlike the Soviet ones, prohibit to wash and re-use, according to Schadrikov — is not from Tatarstan…

3k tonnes of ''gold'' manure a day

Another topic raised by Khadeev at the meeting of the committee was the processing of waste from poultry farms, which he himself developed after the official part.

''This waste, sorry, have a very unpleasant odour, he said. ''It is necessary to invest in their processing, these are the realities of today. By the example of the factory Artel I assessed — the expenditure will increase by 2-5 per cent. They produce 360 tonnes of such waste a day, and we have seven such factories. So I think it's almost 3,000 tonnes a day.''

Another topic raised by Khadeev at the meeting of the committee was the processing of waste from poultry farms, which he himself developed after the official part

To the question whether the introduction of compulsory recycling of chicken manure would lead to a sharp rise in price of products of poultry farms, the chairman of the committee said that it is unlikely. However, government assistance will be required so that law-abiding producers do not go bankrupt:

''By raising prices, producers risk losing their competitiveness. Sometimes it turns out that a person who is law-abiding is punished. Because he buys tractors, technology… and there are no subsidies in the budget. Manure is wealth. It is possible to organize a side production, and it will bring income to the producer. But we need budget investments to transfer waste into money.''