TASS, April 5. The Yamalo-Nenets Region’s domestic market can consume all locally produced venison and fish, including the export amounts, the region’s agriculture department said in a comment on how the region could handle the products, which formerly were to be exported.
Yamal has the biggest in the world domestic livestock of deer - more than 630,000. In 2021, the region’s 15 complexes produced more than 2,100 tonnes of venison. The region’s fish production was more than 10,000 tonnes. The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region is Russia’s fist region to obtain the right to export venison to the European Union’s countries. The supplies are under the regional project on agricultural export under the national project, dubbed International Cooperation and Export. In 2021, the project’s objectives were 100% met.
"The domestic food market can consume venison and fish produced on the Yamal," the department’s representative Andrey Revnivykh said.
According to him, since beginning of 2022, the region has sent to the European Union countries 270 tonnes of venison out of 330 tonnes due for the year. Presently, all the supplies have been suspended. Right now this is explained by the production cycles: shipments are sent out in the first and last quarters. Next supplies are due in December. The regional authorities do not forecast how they may develop, saying everything will depend on the situation later in the year. In the current year, Yamal’s exporters are ready to supply the product in compliance with valid contracts, thus observing own obligations, the agriculture department’s representative told TASS.
In 2008, Sweden, Germany and Finland received more than 5,000 tonnes of venison. In 2021, Yamal’s companies sent 348 tonnes to Finland and about 80 tonnes of non-edible deer offal of the 3rd category - the so-called slaughterhouse waste - to Germany. At the same time, over recent years, the deliberate tendency has been to decrease venison exports and to increase the export of skins and offal. Thus, in 2020 the export of venison was 390 tonnes, of offal - just 33 tonnes. "We have exported about 15% of venison, produced in the region," the official said. "Quite a big share is supplied to local social facilities - boarding schools, kindergartens, hospitals. The main part is supplied to regional retailers."
The local producers hope for stable export to the Customs Union countries. The region’s biggest fish deep-processing factory in Salekhard in 2022 plans to continue the export of tinned fish to Kazakhstan and Belarus. The first 3-tonne consignment left for Belarus in January. "Next consignments are due in late April to both countries (every consignment is about 4.5 tonnes)," the department said, adding the exporters can export products without threatening the regional food security.
Trade development
"The region’s priority in the agricultural development remains the domestic market’s satisfaction. Our decision is to have deep processing in the region. By doing so, we will not only expand the range of finished products, but will make the products available for Yamal residents. Additionally, we will have new production facilities and jobs," the department explained. Yamal currently has eleven venison producing enterprises and nine fish processing enterprises. Fish companies make canned, smoked, dried, salted, snack and culinary products. In 2022, the output is planned to increase from 1,500 to 2,700 tonnes. "Thanks to the regional incentives, the number and capacities of processing enterprises have been going up," the agricultural department said.
For example, a snack producing facility opened in Salekhard in March. The production of venison chips and sticks was financed by a regional grant of 15 million rubles ($174,000). The initial capacity will be 500 kg a month. According to the department, a sausage production facility is being built in Novy Urengoy. In Tazovsky will be a facility for semi-finished venison. Two new enterprises in Nadym will process fish.
The region offers grants for new enterprises and for development of existing enterprises, as well as for production upgrades. Between 2019 and 2021, eleven projects won grants. Those were projects related to meat and fish processing in the region.
According to the regional authorities, the number of Yamal companies selling venison and fish is constantly increasing. "Since March 2021, seven new stores offer the entire range of Yamal products," he continued. Retailers sell products made by companies in the region’s both western and eastern parts - this is an advantage of a new road, connecting Salekhard and Nadym.
For example, in Novy Urengoy since early March has been operating a multi-brand platform, featuring goods made by companies Nord Region, Yamal Deer, Salekhard Plant, Baidaratsky Farm and Nyda-Resource. These companies sell fish and meat products, as well as semi-finished products, jam and other Yamal cuisine delicacies. According to the agriculture department, the region will continue to develop trade infrastructures.