MOSCOW, October 7 (Itar-Tass) —— The domestic market should remain the top priority for Russia’s agricultural producers, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of the 13th Russian Agro-Industrial Golden Autumn Fair.
“First of all, we must guarantee balances on the domestic food market,” he said, stressing, “The task embraces all kinds of products: grain, feedstuff, rape and sugar.”
“The government should keep strict watch for the existence of large amounts of carry-over reserves,” the first deputy prime minister said.
“It is of huge importance,” Zubkov said, adding, “Herewith, excessive products must be sold. At the same time, it is too inefficient to export the whole amount of surpluses.”
In his opinion, the government must create mechanisms, which will make it advantageous for Russian farmers to sell their products at the domestic market.
“Farmers grow their products. And then, they do not know where they could sell results of their activities. That is wrong. That is abnormal,” the first deputy prime minister said.
In his words, it would be great if farmers can sell the harvest standing. Zubkov is confident that the direct contacts of the kind will allow producers to get a real price for their products, while consumers in cities and towns to buy qualitative food for favourable prices.