MAKHACHKALA, March 12 – РИА Dagestan. Workforce demand in Dagestan's agro-industrial complex is projected to reach 200,000 people by 2032, Shamil Ramazanov, republican Minister of Agriculture and Food says. Current estimates from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development indicate the sector employs approximately 192,000 specialists, suggesting a need to recruit at least 8,000 additional workers over the next six years.
To address staffing needs, the republic has expanded local training programs. Over the past three years, Dagestan State Agrarian University has graduated more than 2,000 students across 32 specialties, while Buinaksk Agricultural College and the Agrarian College in Dagestanskie Ogni have trained over 1,800 specialists in 26 fields. These efforts are conducted under the federal project "Personnel for the Agro-Industrial Complex" part of the national project "Technological Support for Food Security".
In 2025, RUB 23.1 million were allocated to the initiative, supporting the creation of 26 agrotechnology classrooms—including two fully modernized facilities in Novolaksky and Suleiman-Stalsky districts—and enabling 15 agricultural producers to recruit 108 specialists through incentive payments.
Funding for the project has been increased to RUB 93.1 million in 2026, with resources designated for further addressing qualified personnel shortages and improving staffing levels at industry enterprises. Minister Ramazanov emphasized that sustaining workforce growth in rural areas requires a coordinated approach encompassing improved living conditions, youth engagement initiatives and development of specialized education systems.