This year, 30 individuals have enrolled in the program at the Smolensk State Agricultural Academy, including nine veterans of the Special Military Operation and their family members. Training is conducted in three high-demand areas:

• Crop production,

• Agritourism,

• Organization of livestock product production and processing.

Both established farmers seeking to boost the efficiency of their operations and newcomers taking their first steps in the agricultural sector — with dreams of launching a business from scratch — will gain new knowledge through theoretical and practical classes.

Representatives from the regional Ministry of Agriculture, the Smolensk Regional Duma, the Main Veterinary Directorate, and relevant agencies, as well as executives from Rosselkhozbank and the Academy, took part in the opening ceremony of the "Farmer's School."

Before the official proceedings began, guests had the opportunity to see the project's practical results firsthand. Past graduates — and even a participant from the current cohort — showcased their achievements.

Oksana Shendorova, a graduate of the "Farmer School" project's fourth cohort, presented her beekeeping products. Galina Mayorova, a 2023 graduate of the "Farmer School," introduced guests to dairy products from LLC “Irmika”. Meanwhile, Nikolai Moskalev — a farmer who enrolled in the program this year — treated the attendees to fresh strawberries.

"The 'Farmer's School' program offers our participants a unique opportunity not only to gain theoretical knowledge but also to acquire practical experience from leading industry experts. They learn how to structure business processes, familiarize themselves with available state support measures and how to utilize them effectively, and, importantly, expand their network of like-minded peers," noted Margarita Mikheeva, Acting First Vice-Rector and Vice-Rector for Research and Informatization at the Smolensk State Agricultural Academy.

It is worth noting that 178 agricultural producers in the Smolensk region have already completed the program.