Address on Agriculture and Processing Industry Workers’ Day

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Friends,

Congratulations to the current and former workers of the agro-industrial and processing industry on their professional holiday, Agricultural and Processing Industry Workers' Day.

Thanks to your productive labour, energy, and commitment, agriculture has firmly become one of the most successful and dynamic sectors of the national economy and a significant factor to promote our country's sovereignty.

Over the past 10 years, agricultural output has increased by over 30 percent. The food industry has grown by over 40 percent. Grain harvests have consistently exceeded 100 million tonnes in recent years, which is a solid achievement reflecting the agricultural industry's stability and sustainability.

Today, our farmers reliably supply the domestic market with all essential foods. High-quality domestically produced food enjoys high demand both at home and internationally, which is corroborated by the fact that Russia is among the world's leading food suppliers.

We take pride in these achievements, which are the result of the tremendous efforts of many agricultural workers from large and medium-sized agricultural companies, farms, cooperatives, the food and processing industry workers, and employees of the industry-specific research and education institutions.

My deepest respect for your love of the native land and your professionalism. Without a doubt, your efforts and your readiness to adopt advanced solutions and technologies, and the effective support of the state, the agro-industrial complex will remain a flagship of our economy.

Special words of gratitude go to the agricultural workers from the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions and Donbass, as well as the border regions of the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions.

Despite the challenging circumstances, you are putting in a lot of effort and doing your best. Such dedication and fortitude deserve the deepest respect. We will continue to prioritise assistance to you. Step by step, we will restore and rebuild everything that was destroyed or damaged. Of course, we will create conditions for realising the vast agricultural potential of our historic territories which have reunited with Russia.

Overall, the key goals facing the Russian agricultural sector include increasing output by at least 25 percent by 2030 and boosting exports by at least 50 percent.

Let me emphasise: this is our strategic goal. Importantly, it must be achieved by strengthening the sector's technological capabilities.

To this end, we need to more broadly introduce domestic equipment and agricultural machinery, expand land reclamation, breeding, and genetics, as well as promising nature-like technologies that preserve and replenish the unique wealth of our arable lands, agricultural lands, and ecosystems, and save them for future generations.

As agricultural production becomes more technology-driven, particular attention must be paid to training scientific and teaching staff and young specialists, all the more so as each year brings to rural areas more opportunities for self-realisation, career building, and starting one's own business, as well as for building a home, a farmstead, and starting a large family.

Our absolute priority is to develop rural areas and to improve the quality of life by repairing and building new schools, kindergartens, and outpatient clinics, building modern housing, roads, and engineering infrastructure.

Overall, we will continue to systematically support the industry and to help the agricultural business-including small agricultural enterprises - to grow and expand output, and to increase their presence on international markets.

Once again, happy holiday to you and your families! I wish you good health, well-being, and all the best.

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