NATALIA SHAGAIDA: “CITIZENS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ARE LESS DEPENDANT ON THEIR SUBSIDIARY FARMING”

Natalia Shagaida, Head of Agrarian Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented to IA“REGNUM” on the news that every year fewer and fewer people in Russia make food preserves for the winter. In her opinion, the pandemic stimulates Russian citizens to expand their production.

“The share of households food production is rapidly declining. Thus, in 2010, it constituted 45% of the national production, however, it evidenced less than 29% in 2019. From year to year, the share of income in kind, including from personal subsidiary plots, is decreasing in total food expenditures. This share is not large in the urban environment: thus, in 2010, it was 8% and in 2019–2020, it was about 7%. In rural regions, it was significantly higher: in 2010, it was 27%, and currently it is 20-21%. Even rural households mostly buy food in the store, except for vegetables and potatoes."

The expert explained that according to surveys the pandemic stimulates citizens to expand their production.

“Almost 37% of respondents owning subsidiary plots replied that they will expand their production. The share of livestock households increased in 2020 compared to 2017. The growth in production would have been higher if, as respondents noted, there was no ban on raising pigs (due to exposure to diseases) for large pig-breeding farms. It is the own production that stimulates food preserving,” added Natalia Shagaida.