August 13 2002, 18:59 ITAR-TASS

Russia will have to increase state support of its farming sector in entering WTO

Russia will have to increase state support of its farming sector in entering WTO. Officials with Russian agriculture ministry maintain that such a support should be strengthened already now, when commercial businesses purchase meat and other livestock products abroad.

The officials think that support of Russian agrarian sector can be provided through both increasing budget funds on a yearly basis and subsidising loans, disbursed to large agricultural companies and holdings, which are being now created in Russia.

Large agricultural holdings are already more that 80 in number and they have huge business potential in Russia, a spokesperson for the ministry said.