Member of the Board and Executive Director of the National Fruit and Vegetable Union Gury Shilov told the ROSNG agency about the market expectations for the harvest of the components of the “borscht set”. Also in an interview with our editors, he commented on the Ministry of Agriculture’s report on an increase by 6.3% in the production of greenhouse vegetables, which is based on cucumbers and tomatoes.
Shilov: Over the past 6 years, more than 1,300 hectares of modern greenhouse complexes have been put into operation in our country, which can provide the country’s population with fresh vegetables all year round. Currently, in Russia, the level of import substitution for cucumber is already 95% (the remaining 5% is the Far East), while the self-sufficiency rate for cucumber in the Central Federal District is 100%. For tomato, we have a self-sufficiency level of almost 65%, although a few years ago it was only 40%. Such results were achieved due to the support programs of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation on subsidizing interest rates, introducing incentive subsidies, etc. In addition, every year the competence of our companies in the field of growing greenhouse vegetables with supplementary lighting has grown significantly, which has significantly increased the yield per square meter.
- If we talk about growing vegetables in greenhouse complexes, then what scale of farms are we talking about?
Farmers supported the government’s initiative on “vegetable access” in retail
Farmers supported the government’s initiative on “vegetable access” in retail
- When we talk about closed ground, large companies are mainly engaged in this, because. investments in the construction of 1 hectare of modern high-tech greenhouses with supplementary lighting can now reach up to 300 million rubles.
- Are only cucumbers and tomatoes a priority for growing in greenhouses?
Shilov: Basically, yes. Some producers have gone into eggplant and are starting to grow peppers in small volumes, but these crops are less productive and more capricious when growing, so greenhouse farms, as a rule, start with working out technologies on tomatoes and cucumbers, and then gradually expand the range of cultivation.
- Many Russians are interested in the “borscht set”. What prices to prepare for in the fall. Last season, I remember, onions and carrots broke records in value.
- Now it is difficult to say, because the main collection of vegetables of the “borscht set” takes place in August-September. Last year, the price was so high because, after overproduction in 2020, farmers reduced the area under these crops. This year, on the contrary, there was an increase in the area under vegetables of the “borscht set” by 5-7%. There were no global weather disasters (the cold spring only shifted the sowing dates), therefore, I think the volume of vegetables will be sufficient for the market and there are no prerequisites for price growth.
