Over 143 million rubles earmarked to support reindeer herders in the Nenets Autonomous Area
© RIA Novosti. Maksim Blinov

Over 143 million rubles earmarked to support reindeer herders in the Nenets Autonomous Area

In 2017, the Nenets Autonomous Area will spend 143.2 million rubles and the federal budget will provide another 36.3 million rubles to support reindeer herding, the website of the Nenets government reported. 

"Support for this traditional industry will let herders update existing and create new capacities and technologies for slaughtering reindeer and processing reindeer products, as well as preserve the livestock of breeding and trade animals," the statement reads.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, Ecology and the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Nenets Autonomous Area, five reindeer farms have built modern slaughter facilities over the past two years.

As of January 1, 2017, the number of reindeer in the Nenets Autonomous Area is 178,000 animals, 30,000 of which are owned by private individuals. In 2016, 66,600 calves were born in the area, which is three percent more compared to 2015. The adult population and the number of calves have both increased.

To date, over 1,000 people in the Nenets Autonomous Area are involved in herding, including 13 reindeer farms and nine family communities of indigenous peoples, which include 107 reindeer teams.