NATALIA SHAGAIDA: “REDUCTION IN LIVESTOCK NUMBERS ACCOMPANIED BY A SIDELINE GROWTH IN LIVESTOCK FARMS PRODUCTION IS A GENERAL TREND”

The total number of livestock in Bashkiria fell by 4.2% in 2021.The number of livestock decreased by 5.9% in private farms. Natalia Shagaida, Head of Agrarian Department of the Gaidar Institute, Doctor of Economic sciences noted to RBC Ufa that reduction in the number of cattle along with growing production of livestock farms is a general trend.


  “In economic terms, of course, it is more efficient when productivity increases, i.e. the amount of output per unit of time or production resource increases. This is the general trend in Russia, when the herd was decreasing and milk yields per cow increased. However, if this problem is addressed more generally, in the sense that livestock in households is an opportunity to have food or money every day, then, in the context of the households falling real incomes the reduction of livestock in private farms is not such an unambiguous phenomenon. Especially in Bashkiria, the proportion of rural population is high and it is difficult to find a job in rural areas. Thus, it would be fine if the opportunity to generate income from private farms were preserved. The state can still help villagers by establishing co-operatives, procurement, access to pastures, etc.,” the expert said.