Development of alternative routes for grain transportation along the Volga River: an initiative by the authorities of the Saratov region.

The authorities of the Saratov region are developing alternative routes for delivering agricultural products produced in the region, including the possibility of transporting grain along the Volga River with ships that have a shallow draft. This issue was discussed at the Ministry of Agriculture of the region.

"Given the complex situation that has developed in the domestic grain market, the head of the region, Roman Busargin, was tasked with finding alternative sales markets. Since the Saratov region is located on the banks of the Volga, special attention was paid to water transport," emphasized Roman Kovalsky, Deputy Chairman of the regional government and Minister of Agriculture.

Over the past two years, the region has shown record grain harvests, which has led to an increase in grain transportation and processing by rail: in 2023 alone, the volumes of grain shipment and its processing products by rail doubled.

"Transporting agricultural products by waterways will significantly reduce the burden on the railway and simultaneously increase the supply of agricultural products beyond the region. Not only to deep-water ports in the south of Russia and the Astrakhan region, but also to the north in the Leningrad region," commented Roman Kovalsky.

To carry out the governor's task, the participants of the meeting were presented with the services of a large shipping company, which has its own ships and transports goods, including agricultural products, through inland waterways.