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Cooperation is the basis of success!

The guest of our column today: the head of Omsky Biocluster's 'Genetics and Breeding of Cattle Practice' Anatoly SHULAKOV.

 

- Mr. Shulakov, good afternoon!

 

- Good afternoon!

 

- Last interview, we discussed the need for an integrated approach to solving livestock problems within a single enterprise, where the achievement of the result requires improvement not only in the genetics of animals, but also in feeding, maintenance, and training. So, the enterprise should not think about cooperation?

 

- Firstly: the result is impossible without own initiative. Secondly, we can and should unite each other's competencies, achieving a synergistic effect. Systemic and complexness of any decisions is required - but at a higher level. 

 

The strongest shortage of qualified personnel in agriculture has become the reason for the need to attract specialists of different profiles for consultations and supervising the activities of enterprises engaged in the production of products directly. And here we have another problem - the solution of the issue in the interests of an exclusively individual farm, it is wrong. I am sure that the efforts of the whole team should be aimed at achieving a common result. The solution can only be in cooperation, not necessarily conditioned by direct economic ties, but based on common goals. For example, our Omsky Biocluster united enterprises for breeding dairy cattle and mixed feed producers, which ensure the realization of its livestock capabilities, manufacturers of equipment for care and milking, processors of manufactured products, as well as establishments of science and education, and laboratories.

 

- We often see representatives of foreign business, actively and sometimes aggressively promoting their products (not always exclusive, having no analogues in Russia), contracting primarily the largest and most financially-viable customers, actively replacing local producers. What do you think about it?

 

- We should treat everything sensibly and deliberately. It is necessary, within the import substitution, to give preference to local companies and specialists, of course, provided they are competitive. We must avoid extremes, imaginary 'local patriotism'. It is necessary to give an opportunity to express themselves and make money to companies from their own or neighboring regions, one can not unreservedly believe foreign brands. This, in my opinion, is a more wise decision. Moreover, it is an investment in the development of your region, a contribution to the future.

 

- You have repeatedly noted the need for the development of interregional cooperation at various events not only regional, but also federal, the idea received approval and support from top-level leaders. And how is it realized in practice?

 

- Interregional interaction within clusters today is of paramount importance from the point of view of increasing the effectiveness of the use of investment resources, infrastructure and human capital. The federal center develops clusters to stimulate import substitution and modernization of production. But, unfortunately, local regional authorities consider the neighboring regions not as partners, but as competitors, which significantly complicates the process of creating interregional structures. Simplification of procedures for creating interregional clusters will allow to shorten the terms of creation as much as possible, increase the number of potential participants and optimize the work on interaction and joint use of material and human resources.

 

- But the adjustment of the legislation on industrial clusters is a change in federal norms. The process is not fast. And we need to cooperate today.

 

- Therefore, Omsky Biocluster initiated the creation of the Interregional Center for Agro Industry Engineering, whose goal is to increase business efficiency by combining the intellectual, financial, material, technical, information and other resources of interested enterprises and organizations on a voluntary basis. Agreement on the establishment of the Center has already been signed by the structures of Omsk, Novosibirsk and Tomsk regions, colleagues from Kemerovo region and other regions of Russia are studying our experience.

 

- How many regions will be participants of the Center?

 

- The issue is not in the number of regions, but in the quality of management in the agro-industrial complex. The branch in the Siberian region is one of the most scarce in terms of availability and skill level of specialists, provision with innovative technologies, modern scientific research. The Interregional Center for Agro Industry Engineering is for us the most relevant format and an urgently needed resource. Using the most equipped laboratories, scientific, educational and personnel potential of individual participants in the interests of the entire cluster will allow achieving maximum efficiency with minimal costs for duplicated items. This will also allow us to focus our efforts on upgrading the infrastructure in a specific place in a certain period of time to achieve the desired result with minimal costs, of course, with a clearly laid out strategy for the future.

 

- Are you talking about the regional development strategy?

 

- Investment attractiveness for business is impossible without the appropriate support of local authorities and the inclusion of cluster initiatives in strategic plans for the region development. As a consequence, the region is deprived of a potential driver for the development of the agro-industry at the local level, which will adversely affect the economy of the sector and the gross regional product. Support measures exist not only financial, but also organizational.

 

- What interesting events will be organized by your Practice in the near future?

 

- We are holding the 'Effective Animal Husbandry' Winter Session. It will include five to six tracks dedicated to specific topics: separate feeding, separate herd care, veterinary medicine, etc. The first two tracks were held in Omsk, now we are considering other Siberian regions. Actually, our 'Genetics and Breeding of Cattle Practice' has become the basis of an independent discussion platform, where Russian and foreign experts of different directions communicate. Here experts, cattle breeders in their language discuss the advantages and disadvantages, reliability and effectiveness of the proposed scientifically sound solutions. I want to note that this is not a scientific club, but a clearly oriented project. Participants get acquainted with the opinion of experts who have many years of experience in real production conditions, not in ideal, optimal, favorable, but real. All beautiful dreams must stay somewhere far away. Only those proposals that will be studied in detail and recognized effective will be used in real conditions. At first the cattle breeder is deceived by beautiful and fascinating pictures, he hears incomprehensible words. Next - the costs and disappointment! Maybe, before you believe, you should first think, discuss, consider from different sides, think again and only then make decisions? One person, even with a scientific degree and rank, even with experience, can always make a mistake, not to see the nuances. If you have studied ten opinions, it is harder to deceive you. Especially it will be useful for those who do not always have enough knowledge or experience, given the quality of our graduates. Our platform is an opportunity to come for advice, if you do not know where to start, what are the priorities.

 

- Are communications limited only to advice?

 

- Here everyone can choose a personal consultant for a particular issue or immediately a team. Experts will understand their responsibility for the proposed projects. If an expert starts consulting on one farm, he does not finish the job, moves to another location, and so on, so it will not work anymore. If there is an unimportant reputation in such a community, it is unlikely that someone will turn to such a "specialist" for advice. These are our plans. It's not a fast, but very necessary thing. It is necessary to all. And you need to do it all together. Will it work out? Not having taken the first step, how to know where the road leads?

 

- Mr. Shulakov, good luck to you. Thanks for the interview.

 

- Thanks!

 

Omsky Biocluster Press Secretary Ravshana Balloyeva

  • Omsky Biocluster Press Service
  • 10 November 2017