SOCHI, August 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia's food import ban creates more opportunities for domestic producers and will spur their development plans, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

“Of course, this creates more competitive conditions for domestic commodity producers,” he said at a meeting with Kirov region acting governor Nikita Belykh. “The government is developing additional measures to support Russian agriculture,” he added.

Belykh urged state aid primarily for agricultural producers that had proved efficient and competitive. “It is necessary to support those who have already asserted themselves in the market to allow them to expand their business,” he said.