State support of cooperation between farmers in the areas of processing, storage and marketing of agricultural produce.

摘要

The role of Russia's peasant farmers in the supply of agrofoods has risen steadily, in spite of the general financial crisis, so that by 1999, they were producing, for example, 7.1% of the total grain, 12.7% of sunflowers and 5.4% of sugarbeet. However, the lack of an effective marketing system, and the regional monopolistic position of processors and trade outlets hampered further development. An effective long-term solution is the establishment of specialist farmers' cooperatives, an idea first mooted in 1992 and given concrete form in 1994 when the decision to provide financial support via the so-called "Russian Farmer" fund was approved. However, planned levels of financial support for farmers' cooperative ventures (in billion roubles) were not reflected in the sums actually distributed (in 1994, 45 vs. 20; in 1995, 77 vs. 8; in 1996, 141.8 vs. 29; and in 1997, 166 vs. 0), primarily because the Russian Ministry of Finance by-passed the Russian Farmer fund, insisting that monies be distributedvia the Federal treasury, with the inevitable delays. However, the concept had some value in this initial stage, inasmuch as models for the various types of cooperation were drawn up, a methodology was devised, and investment projects involving licensing of equipment were initiated. At this time, the Russo-American humanitarian programme for financial support of Russian farmers involving the US Land-o'Lakes dairy cooperative, was launched. The experience gained is considered applicable to methods by which the Russian government could provide financial support via the Russian Farmer fund and its investment programme. An outline is given of the objectives of such a programme, together with the conditions for its financing.