Nizhny Novgorod Region is one of the administrative subjects of the Russian Federation. It is part of the Volga Federal District. It is a rather large region in area when compared with other areas of the European territory of the country. The Nizhny Novgorod region covers an area of 76624 km 2 . It has a slightly oblong shape, being elongated from the southwest to the northeast. The center of the Nizhny Novgorod region is the city of Nizhny Novgorod.
The population density is average - about 42 people / km 2 with a total population of 3.2 million people. (in 2019). Agriculture in the Nizhny Novgorod region is quite diverse, but in terms of development it lags behind many other regions of the Russian Federation.
Natural conditions
The region is located on the East European Plain. To the north and northeast of the Volga river bed (left bank) low-lying relief prevails, and the right-bank part is elevated and drier. The climate is cool, temperate continental. In the north, the average temperature is +3 degrees, and in the south to +4.5 degrees. The amount of precipitation is 500 - 650 mm per year, most of which has a liquid phase. In the Volga region it is higher than on the Right Bank. The duration of snow cover is 150 - 160 days a year. The maximum thickness is in March and is up to 0.5 meters in the fields and up to 0.8 m in the forest. Maximum precipitation falls in the summer months, which should be a favorable factor for crop growth.
Forests cover 53% of the entire territory. In the north, their share reaches 80%. On the left bank, the prevalence of coniferous forests is high. The nature of the vegetation here is closer to the boreal. A lower level of moisture in the south of the region contributes to a decrease in forest area and the predominance of oaks and (to a lesser extent) other hardwoods in the forests.
Agriculture
For crops allocated 40.6% of the region. The most widespread is arable land (65.5% of the total area of farmland). Pasture ranks second in prevalence (20.7% of the area). Grasslands are less common - 7%.
Among the agricultural sectors of the Nizhny Novgorod region, livestock and crop production prevail. The share of the first (in monetary terms) is 50.7%, and the second - 49.3%. They plant crops such as wheat, rye, potatoes, buckwheat, barley, oats, flax, onions, and sugar beets. Corn, rape, millet, soy, sunflower, peas, beans, hemp, strawberries, clover, alfalfa, apples, herbs, saffron mushrooms and even mushrooms are also grown. The functioning of greenhouse complexes allows you to get about 12,000 tons of vegetables all year round.
Agricultural work begins in the second decade of April, and ends in the second decade of November, when sugar beets are harvested.
Livestock
In livestock raising, pigs, cows (meat and dairy), goats, sheep, poultry, fish, horses, bees are raised. Quite a lot of milk is produced (14th place among the regions of the Russian Federation). In addition, they are engaged in traditional fishing. In the region there are 3 poultry farms: Lindovskaya, Vorsma, Pavlovskaya. However, meat products are not produced enough to meet all the needs of the region, and therefore, import of meat from non-CIS countries has been established.
Statistical data
Agricultural development in the Nizhny Novgorod region varies greatly by industry. From 2001 to 2015 inclusive, there was an intensive growth in total agricultural production. The indicator grew from 17.6 to 73.5 billion rubles. in year. At the same time, from 2008 to 2010 there was a decrease in agricultural output. Since the figures are given in rubles, this growth could be the result of an increase in food prices. On a per capita basis, the indicator is significantly lower than the average for Russia (22.5 thousand rubles against 34.4 thousand rubles).
The most successful agricultural sector is the cultivation of potatoes. Nizhny Novgorod region ranks third in terms of output of these products in the Russian Federation, second only to the Tula and Bryansk regions.
By the number of domestic animals in 2015, cattle prevailed (281 thousand animals). Of these, 122 thousand cows. In second place are pigs (243 thousand). On the third, sheep and goats - 77 thousand heads.
As for the dynamics, the number of cattle, including cows, has decreased markedly. Beef production also decreased. At the same time, milk production remained virtually unchanged. By contrast, poultry and egg production increased. The number of pigs fell sharply in 2011, but in 2015 rose again sharply, approaching the 2010 figures.
Conclusion
Thus, agriculture in the Nizhny Novgorod region is characterized by moderate development and is based on crop production and animal husbandry. Beekeeping and fishing are of some importance. Agricultural enterprises of the Nizhny Novgorod region are rather few. These are mainly greenhouse complexes and poultry farms. As for the dynamics, it is quite multidirectional. At the same time, the 2008 crisis had a rather negative effect on agricultural output.