Russia targets food self-sufficiency in next 5-7-10 years - Tkachev
ST. PETERSBURG. June 19 (Interfax) - Russia aims to become self-sufficient in food in the next five, seven or ten years, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said during a discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"The task is over the next five, seven or ten years to become fully self-sufficient in practically all foods," he said.
He said that self-sufficiency in the production of pork has reached 85%, for poultry meat - 90%. "In two to three years will we fully cover these positions," the minister said.
Issues remain in the production of milk, beef, vegetables and fruit, but movement has begun in these subsectors.
Tkachev also said that Russian agriculture at present has a unique chance to raise the production of agricultural goods.
The Agriculture Minister said that the food embargo has enabled stable demand for domestic products, which were provided it with more free access to the domestic market. As a result agriculture is becoming attractive for business. "People feel that this business may yield dividends," Tkachev said.
He said that also there is the task of entering other markets, engaging in the export of agricultural products. Russia may "in a few years" become the country which successfully develops agriculture and earns with it, he said.