Prospects of grain competitiveness improvement in Omsk region

The paper assesses the current state of grain production in the Russian Federation. The analysis of the cul- tivated area, yield and gross grain harvests, including per capita for the period from 1976 to 2013 revealed a steady trend of reduction of grain crops since the late 1970s, which intensified in 1990s. In the years 1996-2000 cereal area decreased almost to the level of the war period, the size of the grain area was 51.3 million. ha, which is by 25.4 million. ha or 33.1 % less compared with 1976-1980. Russian regions were grouped into three groups: the importing, exporting and self-sustaining ones in terms of gross collection of grain per capita. The specific areas of the country that produce surpluses of grain and can export them to other regions of the country or to be exported were identified. These regions include Omsk region. Consideration of the current and future competi- tiveness of the Omsk region grain was carried out in comparison with that of other Siberian regions. It was found that the original condition for competitiveness of grain, exported outside the region is the presence of its com- modity resources. Omsk region has been a reliable supplier of grain for a long period, and a major producer of grain in the region and in Russia. In 2013, it was second in its gross output in the Siberian Federal District and the sixth one in Russia. Its shares of the gross grain harvest within the district and the nation are 22 and 4 % re- spectively. With large volumes of grain production in Omsk region, it is mainly provided by the steppe and for- est-steppe parts of its territory. They accounted for 51 and 29 % of agricultural land respectively, including 54 and 30 % under grain crops. In the grain industry of Omsk region agricultural enterprises and peasant farms pre- vail, with a share of grain production of 47% in 2014. In this context, the prospects for improving the competi- tiveness of Omsk grains are associated with the improvement of its production and sales of agricultural enter- prises and the most effective (peasant) farms in the southern steppe and forest steppe zones.