Russian Agriculture Ministry to partially compensate businesses for costs of creating agrotech classes from 2025

MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax) - The Agriculture Ministry will begin compensating businesses for part of the costs associated with establishing and equipping agricultural technology classes from 2025 as part of the Agricultural Sector Personnel federal project, according to a post on the government's Telegram channel published following a meeting with the rectors of agricultural universities chaired by Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut.

"Fifty agricultural technology classes are already operating in eight regions as part of a pilot, with around 1,000 students currently enrolled. Several other regions have launched such classes independently," it said. "Starting this year, as part of the new Agricultural Sector Personnel federal project, the Agriculture Ministry will begin compensating businesses for part of the costs of creating and equipping agrotech classes. Nearly 600 classes have been selected across 63 regions for 2025."

Several key directions have been identified for developing the agricultural education system, the government said. These include increasing the employment rate of graduates in the agro-industrial complex, expanding enrollment quotas in specialized programs and fully filling the targeted admission quota, improving the quality of education in specialized subjects, increasing the share of agrotech class graduates among students at agricultural universities, attracting more foreign students, collaborating with regional vocational education systems, strengthening scientific research, providing universities, vocational schools and agrotech classes with qualified educators, and promoting agricultural education.

Currently, 45 universities under the Agriculture Ministry are teaching higher and vocational education programs to nearly 280,000 students.

As reported, Lut also participated in parliamentary hearings on agricultural personnel issues, where she presented a so-called seamless education system for the industry.

According to the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues, the agricultural workforce deficit exceeds 200,000 people.