OREANDA-NEWS.  June 27, 2014. The Sub-Group on Agro-Industrial and Fishery Complexes of a Working Group of the “For Russia” National Front” All-Russian Grassroots Movement held an expert session on “Fair and Effective Economy”.

Representatives of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) that took part in the event included the Head of the Department for Control over Chemical Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex, Anna Mirochinenko, and her Deputy, Sergey Vershinin.

Experts discussed the issues of increasing accessibility of mineral fertilizers for agricultural producers as one of the major potentialities of increasing the scope of production of crop products, and maintaining soil fertility.

Participants were especially concerned with soil impoverishment caused by their intensive use and insufficient mineral fertilization.

In the opinion of the majority of the attendees, insufficient use of mineral fertilizers by domestic agricultural producers is still related to low effective demand, in spite of the available mechanisms of state support for the agriculture.

Anna Mirochinenko commented proposals on regulating prices for mineral fertilizers in terms of the antimonopoly law, specially stressing that non-market pricing in the industry, adversely affecting investment attractiveness of production of mineral fertilizers, is unacceptable.

She also emphasized the need of more effective use of WTO mechanisms in the part of green box subsidies to increase soil fertility.

Also, due to some local issues related to providing particular types of mineral fertilizers to agricultural producers, it was decided to discuss the issue at FAS platform.