In the Kaliningrad region, state support for greenhouse vegetable production has led to a significant increase in vegetable production. “In the region there has been active construction of new greenhouse complexes, as well as the modernization of existing complexes. This significantly increases the year-round production of vegetables,” said the Minister of Agriculture of the region Sergey Lyutarevich during a visit to the greenhouse Dona in the Guryevsky district.
The Dona complex has been growing cucumbers for several years. With the introduction of the counter sanctions, they began to grow tomatoes and salad greens. The company is in the process of modernizing the facilities. The work being carried out will allow for an increase in the volume of vegetables being grown. The company is beginning year-round production for the first time; previously, they had to take a break during the winter months, but the launch of the new equipment means this is no longer necessary. "In the near future we plan to put into operation two gas generators with a total capacity of 2 MW and a thermal generator of 3 MW. This will give us the opportunity to supply inhabitants of the region with our products in winter,” said the director of the greenhouse complex Pavel Kuptsov.
The company’s gross yield should increase by 250 tons according to preliminary calculations, to more than 1,000 tons of vegetables annually. The directer of the company also points out that this year Dona lowered prices. "Thanks to the subsidies, which we receive from the state, we are able to repay loans. The loan burden is weakening, and we can sell products in large volumes at a lower price," said Kuptsov.
In turn, Minister Lyutarevich said that on behalf of the Governor of the Kaliningrad Region, Nikolai Tsukanov, production of greenhouse vegetables is one of the priority areas of agricultural development, and the Governor provides support by means of the region’s budget. In 2015, around €286,000 is allocated from the budget for the construction and renovation of greenhouse complexes. Also included are grants on 1 hectare of sown area of crops. Rates vary depending on the type of culture. The subsidy per 1 ha of cultivated area of greenhouse vegetables from the regional budget amounts to close to €3,600, from the federal budget just over €5,000 per ha. “We should increase the production of vegetables and grow cucumbers and tomatoes ourselves year-round. This is very important for inhabitants of the region to buy good quality local produce without trade margins directly from producers,” concluded Lyutarevich.
Source: fruit-inform.com