26 Oct 2023 10:14

Russia starts importing poultry from Belarus, Kazakhstan - Agriculture Minister

MOSCOW. Oct 26 (Interfax) - Russia has begun importing poultry meat from Belarus and Kazakhstan in order to stabilize prices, but there are not really any economic reasons for the growth of prices on the domestic market, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said at a meeting President Vladimir Putin held with the government on Wednesday.

Asked by the president about the reasons for the growth of poultry prices, Patrushev said there was a slight drop in production in Russia in August.

"In principle, there aren't any particular reasons for the increase in prices. Having held negotiations with poultry farmers, we concluded that they, feeling their social responsibility, have already begun to lower prices for chicken. I hope that we'll see this soon," Patrushev said.

Putin said that in such cases the "government must active well known mechanism in time, including purchases of imports from our closest neighbors, from Belarus, Kazakhstan."

"We've already done this, the relevant decisions have already been made. We're receiving poultry meat from both Belarus and Kazakhstan in order to balance our market a little," Patrushev said.

"This needs to be done in a timely manner, then there wouldn't be such growth," Putin said, remarking that poultry prices have risen by more than 27% since the start of the year.