Evgeny Lyulin believes that Nizhny Novgorod agricultural education today is a reliable foundation for the development of the countryside.

      On May 20, 2026, at 18:15, Society. On May 19, at a meeting of the committee on the agro-industrial complex and rural development, parliamentarians discussed the progress of training specialists for agriculture in the region. The conversation covered a whole range of measures: the development of the material and technical base, the results of the admission campaign, and new projects to attract personnel to rural areas.

      Today, systemic support measures for personnel in the agro-industrial complex are in place in the region. Students in agricultural specialties who sign a future employment contract receive a monthly scholarship. Graduates who commit to working in agriculture for at least five years are entitled to a one-time payment: 500,000 rubles for specialists with higher education and 400,000 for those with secondary vocational education. Additionally, young specialists are provided with a housing payment of 2 million rubles to improve their living conditions. In 2025, 30 young workers and specialists received such assistance.

      These specialists are being trained by leading agricultural educational institutions in the region. At the committee meeting, reports were heard on how this work is progressing. It was noted that Knyagininsky University offers students more than a hundred educational programs. Last year, over 15,000 applications were submitted for 1,215 budget-funded places here, resulting in a competition of more than 12 applicants per place. All students at the engineering institute simultaneously receive vocational training as tractor drivers and vehicle operators. Last year, students harvested 4,428 tons of grain using the university's combine, and they logged over 8,000 engine hours on agricultural enterprise equipment. Recently, the university became one of the participants in an experimental legal regime for the operation of drones, opened its "Flight School," and became an interregional center for training personnel in the field of unmanned aerial systems. A real fruit orchard was planted for future gardeners, and a pedagogical direction was launched for those who want to teach children in rural schools. More than a thousand children aged 6 to 18 study annually in two IT hubs at the university.

      In its time, the Ardatovsky Agricultural College, which has a history dating back to 1930, opened a modern tractor driving range covering 3,710 square meters in December last year. Also this year, an agro-cluster of the Nizhny Novgorod region is being created based on the college, which includes the college itself, the Rabotkinsky Agricultural College, and the employer - the Management Company "Russian Field." The total number of students in the cluster will exceed 1,200, and this year it is planned to accept 350 students under the "Professionalization" programs, with the number potentially increasing to 1,050 by 2028. Furthermore, the employment rate of college graduates reached 94 percent in 2025.

      "The development of rural areas begins with a person who is ready to live, work, and raise children here. That is why we have built a comprehensive system: from school agro-classes to a workplace at a modern enterprise. Today, 144 such classes operate in 39 districts, and this is not an elective, but real career guidance with in-depth chemistry, biology, and physics. Young people are not afraid to go to rural areas because they see that they are not just needed as laborers, but as drone operators, food technology specialists, and digital agriculture experts. And we, for our part, are creating conditions: housing payments of up to 2 million rubles, subsidies for enterprises to equip agro-classes, and the construction of new campuses and dormitories," noted the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly, Evgeny Lyulin.

      As for the Nizhny Novgorod State Agro-Technological University named after L.Ya. Florentiev, it is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year. During this time, more than 50,000 specialists for the agro-industrial complex have been trained. Today, over 4,000 students study here, with 80 percent of graduates finding employment, nearly two-thirds of whom work specifically in agriculture. The university keeps pace with the times, a fact acknowledged by both deputies and employers.

      "I am pleased to note that all four specialized organizations are working effectively. Of course, much needs to be done to solve many problems, and we will work together with the Ministry of Agriculture on all the issues raised today. The Nizhny Novgorod region is currently a training ground not only for local farms but also for other regions," emphasized the committee chairman, Igor Tyurin.

      Deputies noted that the region is successfully moving towards the goal of completely meeting the demand of agricultural enterprises for qualified personnel. This comprehensive approach, which combines the modern material and technical base of educational institutions, school agro-classes, and the implementation of new digital technologies, along with existing measures to support young specialists, yields tangible results. Work in this direction will continue in collaboration with the regional government and educational institution leaders. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials for ages 18+.