Bashkiria began to produce 3 times more food

In 2024, the food embargo imposed by the Russian president's decree marked 10 years. This period became significant for the Russian agro-industrial complex, which showed a significant increase in production and widespread introduction of advanced technologies and ensured our country's leadership in the global food market in many key areas.

According to Oksana Lut, the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, recent trends characterize Russia's course towards intensive agricultural sector development and strengthen our position as a guarantor of global food security.

Over the past ten years, Bashkortostan has seen a threefold increase in the volume of food industry production—from 49.3 billion rubles in 2013 to 160 billion rubles in 2023.

The republic's agriculture also significantly increased production from 2013 to 2023. Sustainable development dynamics are characteristic of both the agro-industrial complex and its sectors.

For example, in crop production, grain harvest in 2013 amounted to 2 million 23 thousand tons; in 2023, which was difficult regarding weather conditions, the figure reached 3.2 million tons. Sunflower production showed good growth during this time—almost two times (from 244 thousand tons to 431 thousand tons).

Good results have also been achieved in animal husbandry. Thus, livestock and poultry production increased from 373.2 thousand tons to 423.5 thousand tons, or 13.5%, compared to 2013. Commercial milk production increased from 643.3 thousand tons to 784 thousand tons, or 13.2%.

An essential factor in the growth of the livestock industry was the active construction of new, as well as the reconstruction and modernization of existing complexes. In the last 5 years alone, 20 industrial farms have been built and commissioned in Bashkortostan. In turn, such a boom in the construction of new facilities can be seen as a result of the growth of investment activity in the industry. Thus, investments in fixed assets in the region over 10 years have grown from 10.7 billion rubles (in 2013) to 14.3 billion rubles (in 2023). The food industry has grown in almost all areas of the republic. The production of vegetable oil has increased nearly 4 times (from 88 thousand tons to 331 thousand tons), and sugar has increased by one and a half times (134 thousand tons to 219 thousand tons). Cheese making is developing, and throughout Russia, it received a big boost after introducing the food embargo. Cheese production in the region over the past 10 years has increased by a third, from 64 thousand tons to 88 thousand tons. The dynamic development of the domestic agro-industrial complex resulted from the state's systemic decisions to protect and support Russian producers and stimulate specific areas.

Since 2020, Russia has been a net export of food - exports exceed imports, and the gap between the indicators is growing yearly. Thus, according to the results 2023, deliveries to foreign markets were 24% higher than the volume of purchases from abroad.

The volume of agricultural exports of Bashkortostan over 10 years has increased by 10.8 times and amounted to 730.4 thousand tons at the end of last year against 67.4 thousand tons in 2013. The key importing countries of the republic are India, Iran, and Kazakhstan; the region also actively cooperates with China, Algeria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and many others. The republic mainly sells sunflower and rapeseed oils, flax seeds, animal feed, sugar, barley, oats, buckwheat, dairy products, and others abroad. The most crucial issue is to provide the industry with professional personnel.

Author: Elina Akhmetova