Despite the record harvest of last year, it will not be so easy to repeat it this time: there may be problems with fertilizers, seeds and machinery.
Russian farmers note a significant increase in prices for almost everything that is needed for spring sowing.
For example, in the Steppe agricultural holding, they said that they bought everything they needed back in September, and in bulk, and this made it possible to largely avoid the risks of subsequent price increases and save money.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that spare parts for Russian agricultural machinery increased by 20-40%, and for imported ones — in general, several times.
By the way, one cannot be sure that all other Russian agricultural producers are doing just as well. Perhaps many of them did not have time to stock up in advance, so now they will have to purchase everything they need on unfavorable terms.
Import substitution inevitable?
In the same Steppe holding, they noted that the trend to replace foreign equipment with Russian has been going on for a long time, thanks to which the share of Russian equipment has already been increased to 70%.
The share of plant protection products and seeds of major crops is almost 100% Russian.
However, there are still big problems with seeds in Russia, notes the Flagman company from the Krasnodar Territory.
Russia fully provides itself only with wheat and barley seeds, but in everything else the country is still highly dependent on imports.
For example, for sugar beet seeds, the dependence reaches 99%, for sunflower 90%, for corn 70%. But it was sugar beet that, thanks to its high prices, strongly supported farmers last season.
It is necessary to urgently resolve the issue of replacing foreign seeds with Russian ones, experts say.
At the same time, foreign partners, including those from the US and Europe, for the most part do not want to lose the Russian market, and therefore supply their seed products anyway.
But big problems are caused by prices, which have risen strongly, despite the strengthening of the ruble.
In addition, under the conditions of sanctions, no one guarantees that deliveries will really be on time, you have to rely on luck, which is unacceptable for farmers who cannot miss the deadlines.
Agrarians are dissatisfied with duties
Another big problem is high export duties, which take a significant part of the profits from manufacturers.
Moreover, this is happening against the backdrop of how all the means of production are becoming more expensive.
Farmers note that if the authorities do not provide clear and stable market conditions, this may lead to the fact that this season farmers will start saving on fertilizers, which will reduce yields: for example, from 70 centners per hectare to 55.
