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Russian pork producers can build up production by a third over six months - analyst

BELGOROD, August 09, /ITAR-TASS/. Making Russia self-sufficient in pork will require building up the current output by 800,000 tonnes, a third of the amount Russia produced last year, the man who chairs the board of directors of the national pig breeders’ union, Vladimir Zotov, told ITAR-TASS on Friday.

According to his estimates, any of Russia’s large companies can step up production to meet the desired target.

Zotov himself runs the GK Agro-Belogorye group of companies, which controls five percent of the domestic pork market. It is prepared to promptly increase the current output by 15-20% if there is a surge in market demand following the suspension of import from some countries.

He emphasized the need for keeping an eye on prices for a while, for some retailers may be tempted to overcharge prices.

“As a producer I quite agree with the government in the sense there must be a certain threshold price, equally comfortable for the consumer and the producer,” he said.