Russia will be more careful in food exports. This was announced on Tuesday, April 5, at a meeting organized by Russian President Vladimir Putin to support the agro-industrial complex. According to him, Russia can provide lower prices for products in the domestic market than in the world.
Agriculture needs to be brought to faster growth rates – over 3% a year, he said, adding that these are “pretty real, reasonable benchmarks”.
The situation may worsen
“Over the past two years, the situation in the global food market has become noticeably more complex. Errors in the economy, energy and food policies of developed countries caused a sharp increase in food prices around the world two years ago. TASS.
He stated that the situation has worsened in recent weeks: Regarding the Russian Federation new sanctions have been introducedFertilizer supplies from Russia and Belarus are curtailed, and their production in the West is falling – including due to high gas prices.
In the future, the world situation may worsen due to a lack of fertilizers and attempts by developed countries to “buy, attract the flow of food”, which will “inevitably aggravate food shortages in the poorest regions of the world”. “Putin is encouraging new waves of immigration and generally raising world food prices further,” he said.
domestic market
“It is clear this year, against the backdrop of global food shortages, that we need to be more cautious in our food supply abroad, that is, carefully monitor the parameters of such exports to countries that are openly hostile to us,” he said. said the president.
According to his estimates, the situation in Russia does not cause alarm. “Our domestic market for the main food groups is completely provided by our own production, and the capacities of domestic enterprises for some goods, such as sunflower oil and grain, exceed the demand,” said Putin.
He added that increased production volumes make it possible to ensure that food prices in Russia are lower than in the world market.
Putin also said that the agricultural industry should minimize negative externalities for Russians and increase the supply of high-quality and affordable products to the domestic market – this is a key task for 2022.
from field to fork
He also drew attention to the need to reduce dependence on foreign purchases “along the whole chain from farm to bench”, primarily imported seeds and cultivation products, vitamins and feed additives, and plant protection products.
“We need to establish clear rules for import substitution here and to follow them persistently in the very near future,” said the President.
In addition, Putin demanded to closely monitor the situation with fertilizers, as the needs of domestic farmers should remain a priority.
“The task of the system is the reliable fertilizer supply of our agricultural producers. Here, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the entire government should monitor this situation very carefully. The needs of our farmers should come first.”
lack of fertilizer
He added that fertilizers are now scarce in the world. Therefore, as he believed, Russian fertilizers will already be taken abroad. “We have no intention of harming anyone, in any way. We have to deal with this carefully with everything: logistics and insurers alike.
This [удобрения] today the deficit will be taken. Will. Nobody wants to die of hunger.
We should look at all these problems carefully and solve them primarily according to our own interests. As for fertilizers, I propose not to change anything today and agree with the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture as a whole, but I propose to discuss this issue in the very near future in working order, ”said the author.
“Still, I propose to leave the current regime – through agreements – and there are three components there as I recall: regions, producers, agricultural producers. We will not pass the export license yet,” said Putin, adding, “This does not mean that we have put an end to this forever.” He explained, “Let’s think about it, but for now we will not change anything.”
Nationalization of energy assets
Also, as Putin said, the situation in the energy sector is “deteriorating in some European countries as a result of non-market, brute measures, including administrative pressure on Gazprom.
We are witnessing yet another attempt by our partners to shift their own mistakes in the economy and energy field to Russia and to resolve the problems and problems that have arisen in this matter at our expense, ”said he.
Putin also commented on calls by a number of Western officials to nationalize Russian energy assets abroad. He said, “Well, we’ll go far. Nobody should forget that this is a double-edged weapon.”
How much do Russians spend on food?
Against this background, the daily expenditure of Russians is falling, judging from the Romir study.
Thus, from March 28 to April 3, the weekly index of expenses reached 5,119 rubles, which is 4.6% (245 rubles) less than the previous week. Compared to the same period in 2021, expenses are 3.7% higher (183 rubles). According to the average value of the last 12 months (5,293 rubles), the index was 3.3%, or 174 rubles, lower than the holding’s data.
The average check index decreased by 2.4% (16 rubles) compared to the previous week – the average cost of one purchase amounted to 643 rubles. Compared to the same period last year, the indicator shows an increase of 7.5% (45 rubles). Compared to the average value of the last 12 months (655 rubles), the weekly check is 1.8% or 12 rubles less.