The Russian pig industry is again attracting investment despite the continuous spread of African swine fever (ASF) – noted Vladimir Labinovsky, director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, in his report at the International scientific and practical conference “Pig industry in 2013. Results of the first year in the WTO”
According to his report, the industry has become competitive and attractive to investors in recent years. From 2008 to 2012 Russia launched and reconstructed about 400 sectors in the pig industry. Production of pigs for slaughter in live weight rose by 702,000 tonnes, or 27%. The number of pigs increased by 2.5 million head or 15%.
Labinovsky also noted that the industry successfully faced challenges throughout 2012-2013, such as rising feed costs and a fall of pork prices, mostly with support of the government.
In 2013, Russia conducted 26 programmes to support of the pig industry. The additional funds allocated this year from the federal budget for the compensation of cost of feed was RUB5.7bn (US$190mln). Total funding of the programmes aimed to prevent the introduction, distribution and spread of the ASF was RUB300 mln (US$10mln).