Major institutions providing extension/advisory services
Public Institutions
Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
The Ministry of Agriculture (Minselkhoz) is the federal executive body responsible for drafting and implementing government policy and legal regulation in the agriculture and related industries such as livestock and fishery farming. Among several other functions, the Ministry provides state services related to agriculture, including sustainable development of rural areas. The Division of Sustainable Agriculture Extension Service (DSAES), established in by the Ministry in 1999, oversees the provision of public extension and advisory services to the farmers. Hundreds of decentralized, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions related to agriculture and rural development based at various administrative levels, coordinate, supervise and provide the extension and advisory services in the field. Some regions and oblasts including Leningrad and Sergiev Posad have Sustainable Agriculture Extension Centers (SAEC) and Information Consulting Service (ICS) Centers that provide extension services to the farmers.
Agricultural research institutes
Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (RAAS)
The Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences is the highest autonomous scientific institution in the agro-industrial complex of Russia for scientific support. The RAAS covers agricultural research and advanced agricultural education. It organizes events on scientific information and consulting, and collaborates with relevant institutions at all levels. The Academy enjoys a vast network of research institutions, designing and technological organizations, pilot and experimental farms (5.8 million hectares of land, over 360,000 heads of cattle, 130,000 heads of pigs, 65,000 heads of sheep and 1.6 million heads of poultry), and enterprises, and many other institutions. In 2000, RAAS had under its jurisdiction 199 research institutes with each focusing on specific agricultural discipline, and 24 agricultural pilot stations, including 47 centers on plant breeding, animal breeding, and biotechnology. The number of RAAS staff runs in thousands. RAAS representatives serve on agriculture related policy and advisory bodies. Its network institutions, in addition to generating and adapting improved technologies, collaborate with the staff of extension and advisory centers in the field.
A 9-page long list of research institutes may be seen at the AgroWeb Russian Federation, a site created and maintained by the government with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. A few random examples from the list of hundreds of agricultural research institutes are as follows:
All-Russia Research and Development Institute of Machine and Tractor Fleet Operation and Repair.
All-Russia Research and Development Design and Technology Institute of Livestock Breeding Mechanization.
All-Russia Research and Development Institute of Butter and Cheese Production.
All-Russia Research and Development Institute for Rice.
All-Russia Research and Development Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology.
All-Russia Research and Development Production and Technology Institute of Organic Fertilizers and Peat.
V.A. Afanasiev Research and Development Institute of Fur Animals and Rabbit Farming.
Agricultural universities, academies and colleges
Russia has 58 universities of higher professional education. In 2000, more than 84,000 students entered agricultural universities. There are 285 agricultural colleges located in 71 subjects of Russia, in addition to 40 agricultural academies.
Certain agricultural universities were involved in extension and advisory work under various national and donor-funded projects, and are still playing an important role in extension in terms of offering degree programs in agriculture, capacity building of extension staff, and serving in advisory role. A few examples are:
Moscow Timiry Azev Agricultural Academy (MTAA)
Operates the Federal Training Center for Extension Service Staff where extension services staff receives in-service training. The center has several branches, which are based at various agricultural institutions such as Tver Agricultural Academy (since 1997), Omsk Agricultural University (since 1998), Buratia’s Extension Center within the Buratia Agricultural Academy (since 1999), and Extension Service Center of Dmitrovsky rayons of Moscow region; and had total of 20 extension staff in 1999.
St. Petersburg State Agrarian University (SPSAU):
artner Russian institution in the Russian-American Farm Privatization Project (RAFPP; 1992-1998).
Shushary Academy of Agribusiness Management (AAM)
Partner Russian institution in the Russian-American Farm Privatization Project (RAFPP; 1992-1998); developed a training program for new extension staff in cooperation with a World Bank project.
Moscow State Agricultural Engineering University
Actively involved in Farmer-to-Farmer Program (1992-2008).
Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Stavropol State Agricultural University
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Buryat State Agricultural University, Ulan Ude
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Novosibirsk State Agricultural University
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Omsk State Agricultural University
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Orel State Agricultural Academy
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Primorskaya State Agricultural Academy, Ussurisk
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Samara State Agricultural Academy
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
St. Petersburg State Agricultural University
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Voronezh State Agricultural University
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Yaroslavl State Agricultural Academy
Actively involved in the Academic Network for Agricultural Extension in the Russian Federation Project (2003-2007).
Lomonosov Moscow State University
operates the Eurasian Center for Food Security (ECFS), which covers the Central Asia and South Caucasus, but initially focuses on Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Non-Public Institutions
Private sector
Although some externally funded projects have tried to introduce the concept of private advisory services in Russia yet there is no evidence that any significant fee-based extension and advisory services are operating in the country. The extension and advisory system in Russia is still evolving and remains public and cost-free for the farmers. It may be assumed that with the passage of time, Russia might experiment with a partial or full private advisory service in certain parts of the country for certain types of producers. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a considerable number of old joint companies have modified themselves into private, commercial companies, and probably new companies are emerging. Some companies are working in partnership with foreign companies which have branch offices in Russia, and have international business operations. AgroTech Russia 2013, the 8th international specialized exhibition for agricultural machinery and investment goods for crop production was held at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center from 9 to 12 October 2013.
A few examples of private companies involved in various types of commercial agricultural activities in Russia are presented below:
Lavka
It is a rather unconventional, unique Russian company that takes orders for fresh food items produced by local farmers, and supplies it at doorsteps of the customers. Orders may be placed for meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products, and other items like jams, pickles, vegetables, fruits, etc.
Rostselmash
A Russian company dealing in agricultural equipment; founded in 1929; based in Rostov-on-Don; became fully privatized in 2000; produces combine harvesters.
Razgulay Group
One of the biggest agribusiness Russian group companies; based in Moscow; trades internationally through subsidiaries in grain and grain products including raw sugar, sugar beet, and milk; its subsidiary Razgulay-Agro Company manages agricultural assets of the Group, invest in expansion of land, purchases agricultural equipment and introduces advanced crop production technologies.
Black Earth Farming
A public, invest-run agricultural business company founded in 2005; based in Russia, with the goal of acquiring cheap, neglected but fertile land in the fertile Black Earth regions of Russia.
PhosAgro
A Russian accompany based in Moscow; founded in 2003; produces fertilizer, phosphates and feed phosphates.
Prodimex
A giant agricultural company in Russia that produces white sugar from sugar beets and sugar cane; also deals in beef pulp as animal fodder additive; has several enterprises in Russia; and enjoys international businesses.
Volga Farming Ltd.
An agricultural company that owns and leases about 65,000 hectares of land in fertile regions of Russia; founded in 2007; focuses on cultivation of grain and oil crops; and has acquired assets of a few Russian companies.
EkoNiva
A Russo-German farming company; started operations in Russia in 1994; now has 25 enterprises in several Russian ci