Russian pork, poultry production on rise

Efforts by the Russian government to increase domestic meat production to replace imported meat on the domestic market appear to be succeeding, with both pork and poultry production showing increases in the first half of this year as compared to the same period in 2008.
Russia produced 4.1 million metric tons liveweight of meat in the January to June period, a year-on-year increase of 6%. Pork and poultry production increased by 8% and 12% respectively year-on-year in the first half of this year. Russia's agriculture minister, Yelena Skrynnik, said the increase in meat production should facilitate a reduction in meat imports of more than 25%.