President Vladimir Putin visited the year-round Makatrov Peasant Farm greenhouse complex in Chukotka during a working trip on January 10. The visit highlighted the region’s ongoing efforts to expand local agriculture and food resilience amid challenging natural conditions.
The facility is engineered to cultivate vegetables even in permafrost regions, using advanced greenhouse technology and climate-controlled systems. The project represents a substantial investment, with about 320.8 million rubles committed to bringing this agricultural initiative to life.
Spread across a total footprint of 0.24 hectares, the greenhouses are being brought online in stages. By 2024, half of the complex will be operational, enabling a steady production flow and the potential to broaden year-round harvests. The operation currently yields approximately 79 tons of vegetables annually from the land, showcasing the capacity of compact, high-efficiency greenhouses to contribute to local food supply.
Around 20 staff members are employed by the enterprise, contributing to regional employment and providing a steady supply of fresh produce to nearby communities. The farm currently accounts for roughly one-fifth of the vegetables purchased by residents of Anadyr, underscoring the role of local greenhouses in meeting community demand and reducing dependence on remote supply chains.
Despite its promising trajectory, the project faces practical hurdles. High energy consumption and the need for specialized equipment demand ongoing investment. Additionally, the logistics of sourcing agricultural inputs in the Arctic environment present ongoing challenges that require careful planning and robust supply networks.
The visit to Chukotka marked Putin’s first regional trip of the year and his first close look at Anadyr in this cycle. The president’s visit underscored the administration’s interest in regional agricultural development and the potential for Arctic farming technologies to scale across distant regions with similar climatic constraints.
Earlier reports from national agricultural authorities highlighted plans for a record potato harvest, signaling a broader governmental focus on improving crop yields and food security across the country. The integration of large-scale greenhouse farming with traditional agricultural practices reflects a broader strategy to diversify Russia’s agricultural base and strengthen regional resilience against climate and logistical risks.