A recent inter-ministerial gathering focused on how rising transport costs affect farm profitability and the national food security outlook. The discussions occurred on March 24 and were centered on how logistics expenses influence the purchase prices paid to farmers, especially amid an anticipated record harvest. The dialogue underscored the link between transportation tariffs and the stability of food prices, highlighting risks to both farmers’ margins and consumer affordability.
The event was chaired by the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dmitry Patrushev, who outlined the immediate need to examine market conditions for transport services tied to crops. Patrushev urged a rapid analysis by the Federal Antimonopoly Service to assess current price dynamics and to evaluate options for stabilizing the transport sector’s pricing. He called for a coordinated response from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture, working in tandem with the Federal Antimonopoly Service, with concrete proposals due within two weeks on mechanisms to regulate transport costs for agricultural goods.
In parallel, the discussion touched on broader regulatory developments. The government has recently advanced a new Taxi Law, which aims to bring order to the passenger transport market. While officials expect tariff adjustments as part of the reform, there is concern about unintended consequences for consumers and the livelihoods of selfemployed drivers who may seek formal employment under the new framework. Industry observers warn that the legislation could change the composition of taxi drivers, potentially increasing the share of nonprofessionals entering the market. This shift could intersect with agricultural supply chains when road transport capacity is constrained during peak harvest periods, amplifying price volatility and affecting rural producers’ access to timely logistics solutions. The overall message from participants was that coordinated policy action, evidence-based regulation of transport prices, and careful monitoring of market responses are essential to safeguarding both producer profitability and food security for the country. These insights reflect ongoing efforts by the administration to align transport policy with agricultural needs, ensuring a stable and predictable pricing environment for food supply chains. The dialogue continues as ministries prepare to publish concrete recommendations and implement checks that help maintain a balanced market for transport services related to crops. Stakeholders throughout the sector expect that the forthcoming measures will address price pressures at the source while supporting reliability in the distribution network. The emphasis remains on practical, data-driven steps that can be rapidly deployed to mitigate risk and protect the affordability of staple foods. (Source attribution: Ministry of Agriculture briefing and related regulatory discussions.)