In the framework of the conference “Russian agro-industry – 2030: ways to achieve technological leadership” held yesterday Thursday 10/10 within the framework of the 26th Russian agro-industry exhibition “Golden Autumn”, the Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin argued that “in the context of unprecedented sanctions against our country, our farmers made the most of this opportunity” and that “much of what was bought from abroad ten years ago is now bought in Russia”. As reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the position of the Russian prime minister is quite restrained.
In response to the economic sanctions imposed by the collective West against Russia due to the return of Crimea to its “harbor”, in 2014, by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a food embargo was imposed – a ban on imports into Russia of certain types of agricultural products, raw materials and food from unfriendly countries.
As a result, over the past ten years, our agro-industrial complex has made more than just progress, it has made fantastic progress and achieved a feat,” reports RIA Novosti.
To the elite in a decade
As mentioned, Russia, in fact, is a northern and sparsely populated state in relation to its area, with a small share of land used for agricultural purposes. Despite this, he managed to pass to the elite of the states, where the agricultural conditions are clearly better. For example, in the USA agricultural lands occupy more than 50% of the total area of the country (in Russia it is only 12% to 13%) and even their northern regions (with the exception of Alaska) are located at the latitude of Crimea and of Anapa.
Increase production
During these 10 years of sanctions, the production volumes of Russian agriculture increased by three times, while in the food and processing industries, the increase was 1.5 times higher.
Back in 2013, Russia imported a significant part of the meat it consumed, which has changed significantly, as according to Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, Oksana Lut, “we are completely self-sufficient in meat and have the opportunity to export these products to other countries as well. countries, increasing production volumes every year.” Speaking at the meeting, Lut said that Russia still lags behind in mutton, although it is estimated that very soon there will be spectacular progress in this area as well.
Record grain harvest record
For 10 years, the gross grain harvest in Russia has exceeded 120 million tons. In 2023-2024, the grain harvest amounted to 142.5 million tons, and at the moment the harvest has already exceeded 120 million tons, that is, taking into account the volume of domestic consumption of all types of grain in Russia, food security in it the sector is fully insured.
In just one year, the production of Russian agricultural products increased by an average of 2.2% (for example, livestock and poultry production increased by 4.2%, raw milk by 3.3%), and next year will add a another 4.4%.
Food security
The Russian Prime Minister mentioned that one of the main strategic documents of our government is the “Doctrine of Food Security of the Country”.
According to Mikhail Mishustin, “its implementation is one of the foundations of our sovereignty, which also aims to improve the quality of life of our citizens.” So: according to the doctrine and instructions of our president, by 2030 the volume of production of the Russian agro-industrial complex should increase by at least a quarter compared to 2021, and exports should increase by one and a half times.
It is no coincidence that the Western media have been constantly repeating in recent years that Russia has turned its agro-industrial complex into a branch of the Ministry of Defense and that Russian agricultural exports are our powerful “silent weapon”.
World leader
Russia is the absolute world leader in the export of wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and rapeseed oil, peas and frozen fish: for example, every fifth loaf of bread in the world is of Russian origin.
This year Russia supplies food to 160 countries and even North America continues to buy our wheat, despite the current situation.
The number of countries buying Russian wheat has increased from 57 to 67 during the year. And that means that technically… we ousted someone. For example, the market saw a sharp drop in the share of wheat from Argentina and Australia, with which we were competing fiercely.
In Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, we continue to put pressure on European – mainly French – wheat, which led to a decrease in its exports from France during the year from 9 million tons to 5.6 million tons.
For example, in the context of serious climate problems with sugar production in Brazil (about 80% of the world market), India and Australia, Russia immediately took action and lifted the ban on sugar exports that had been in place until now, and now enters 18 national markets with a potential of 600 thousand tons (to begin with).
Embargo extension
On September 19, Vladimir Putin extended the embargo on the import of any food from Western countries into Russia for two years and will now be in effect until December 31, 2026.
The Russian agricultural sector employs about 6% of the total working population. This is a whole army, an army of workers who strengthen Russia’s economy every day.
