April 29 2005, 09:15

Russia: Ministry of Agriculture prepared a program for soybean production increase

Ministry of Agriculture of Russian Federation has prepared a program for soybean production increase in Russia. The program supposes construction of 3 plants for extensive soybean processing. Producers rely on the government moves and expect they will help market to develop, and processors hope to meet their raw materials needs with the help of the government.

Federal Agency for Food Market Regulation (FAP) has started putting the program into practice. The first step of the program is increase of soybean imports. At the present time Russia has only 2 large plants for extensive soybean processing, and it is insufficient. Russia needs about 20 such plants to meet domestic consumption.

According to the words of Director General of FAP, the purpose of the program is to encourage Russian agrarians to produce soybeans.

Despite the fact that soybean is not a major crop for Russia its consumption grows 10 percent each year.