EkoNiva, Russia's largest dairy holding, announces the commissioning of Naratly farm located near the village of the same name in Bugulma district, the Republic of Tatarstan. Investments in the project amounted to about 4.5 billion rubles, with Rosselkhozbank acting as the financial partner.

The construction of the dairy has been underway since 2019. The infrastructure comprises four barns, calf pens, young stock housing sites, a forage warehouse, a hygiene station and a rotary milking parlour. The project is intended for 3,550 cows and 5,100 head of dairy young stock. The production capacity of the farm is 120 tonnes of milk per day. The enterprise creates 175 jobs.

Naratly’s herd consists of high-yielding Holstein cows. The enterprise has already received the status of a breeding reproducer and is engaged in pedigree cattle breeding to meet the needs of agricultural producers. Heifers from the dairy will be sent to other farms of EkoNiva, as well as sold to other enterprises, including through electronic auctions.

Naratly is also part of EkoNiva's tour project. This is the Group's first dairy farm in the Volga region which is open to visitors. EkoNiva's guides have developed a special overview route around the farm enabling to take a look at the main stages of milk production. The registration of everyone interested will be available soon.

‘Naratly farm will make a valuable contribution to developing the dairy industry in Russia and filling the market with fresh natural goods. This is fully in line with the goal of stepping up agricultural production, which was set by the President. In addition, the high-tech equipment will help to improve the employees’ skills and unlock the human resources potential of the national farming sector’, comments Denis Konstantinov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Rosselkhozbank.

‘We are happy to work in Tatarstan – the leader in raw milk production – and want to contribute to the republic’s record performance. Besides, the launch of Naratly is highly important for the social and economic development of Bugulma district itself. Along with the projects of the key players in the Russian agricultural market, it will become part of a full-fledged farming cluster being formed here. As a result, its participants can enhance their cooperation, and the locals will be provided with comfortable living and working conditions’, says Stefan Dürr, President of EkoNiva Group.

In the Republic of Tatarstan, EkoNiva is represented by Severnaya Niva Tatarstan Operation. The enterprise started its activities in 2018 and specialises in raw milk production and crop growing. Its overall farmland area in Bugulma district is 35,000 hectares, of which 26,000 hectares is arable land. The company has a total of about 560 employees.