Russia to protect domestic food market

Russia is capable of producing not less than 80% of all agricultural products consumed in the country, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture Minister Alexey Gordeyev declared at an agricultural conference in Nizhny Novgorod.

Gordeyev considers resolution of the problem arising from a reduction in meat imports and developing meat production in Russia to be one of the main tasks for the agrarian industry. According to him, Russia imports almost 40% of its meat. The volume of Russia's meat production is $10bn, whereas the amount of meat imports is $8bn. In this connection the Agriculture Minister pointed out that Russia needed tough measures to protect its domestic food market. He remarked that the volume of poultry imports would be reduced by 25% this year, and the corresponding figures for pork and beef are 22% and 16% respectively. This reduction will facilitate a real increase in the volume of production at Russian agricultural companies.