Meat production development In the russian federation
A key objective in Russia's agricultural policy is to supply its population with domestically-produced food.
The organisational and economic measures taken at the federal and regional level have brought about positive changes in livestock production. Currently, animal husbandry is attractive both to Russian and foreign businesses. The state of the Russian meat market has prompted many companies to build new livestock facilities and upgrade old ones by adopting modern selection and other technology.
Thanks to the implementation of the national priority project and following the first year of the State Programme for Agricultural Development, Russian agriculture has 504 new and modernised swine production facilities, 287 broiler poultry facilities, and over 127 cattle raising facilities.
In the past three years, meat production in the country has increased by 22%, including pork by 27%, and poultry by 34%.
In 2008, livestock and poultry production in live weight for slaughter in all categories of farms rose 6.5% year-on-year to reach 9.3 million metric tons, including 3,096,000 tons for cattle (101.8%), 2,687,000 tons for swine (104.9%) and 3,023,000 for poultry (114.8%).
Recent years have seen drastic changes in the percentage of livestock and poultry raised for slaughter. In overall production, the proportion of cattle dropped from 47% in 2000 to 33% in 2008, that of poultry increased from 16% to 29%, while swine changed but little, from 31% to 32.5%.
In 2008, agricultural units produced more than 52% of all meat in the country. The share of farms in meat production continues to grow, but in a breakdown by category, the figure varies slightly. Over the past 8 years, for example, the proportion of agricultural units producing cattle has fallen (from 43% in 2000 to 34% in 2008), while those producing poultry and pork have grown - from 65% to 86% and from 28% to 42%, respectively.
These data show positive trends in Russia's livestock industry and point to stable growth in home-produced meat offered on the domestic market.
At the same time, each segment of Russia's domestic meat market has its specific issues. Measures to regulate the meat market, including customs and tariffs, are a case in point.
To stabilise Russia's meat market, make domestic producers more competitive, and regulate meat imports, the Government adopted on December 8, 2008 Resolution No. 918 On Temporary Rates of Customs Duties Related to Some Types of Red Meat, Pork and Poultry and Amending Government Resolution No. 732 dated December 5, 2005, which provides for:
- preserving the customs duties on beef imported out of quota at the 2008 level, or 30%, but no less than 0.3 euros per kilogramme;
- reducing the poultry import quota established for 2009 from 1,252,000 tons to 952,000 tons, and from 931,500 tons to 750,000 tons in the case of the United States;
- increasing customs duties on pork imported out of quota from 60%, but no less than 1 euro per kilogramme, to 75%, but no less than 1.5 euro per kilogramme, and on poultry from 60%, but no less than 0.48 euro per kilogramme, to 80%, but no less than 0.7 euro per kilogramme.
