President questions new fertilizer financing scheme effectiveness

The first issue is the proposed change in the financing scheme for mineral fertilizer supplies to agricultural organizations.

"For next year, we propose increasing fertilizer purchases by another 18 percent to ensure projected growth in agricultural production, which is understandable. Therefore, even more funds will be needed (about 3 billion rubles in total), as well as real sources of financing. To reduce fertilizer costs for farmers and ensure full quota utilization, the Government has developed new approaches," said the President.

"I would like you to clearly demonstrate, with specific calculations, how the new scheme will affect the actual price of fertilizers for farmers. By shifting part of their costs to the budget, can we guarantee full quota utilization? Are we concerned about quota uptake? We are concerned because we are spending money—what will be the efficiency of these expenditures? And another thing: will this innovation stop the practice of unscheduled appeals to the President for additional resources, as happened just a week ago? Most importantly, will this motivate a hypothetical director to work more efficiently, if we are all solving his problems collectively?"