Food imports decreased by one third over the past six years

The article highlights the outcomes of Russia's pro-embargo initiative, which was introduced in 2014 in response to western sanctions. The Ministry of Agriculture has reported a notable decrease in food imports from 2013 to 2019, with significant reductions in pork, cattle meat, and certain fruit imports. Despite these decreases, the value of food imports still dropped by 30 billion dollars over the six-year period. Concurrently, Russia has seen a growth in its agricultural export values, increasing by 1.5 times from 2013 to 2019, with key exports including wheat, vegetable oil, fish, sugar, and various other products. The state support for agriculture has been increased, leading to a rise in the production of key crops and livestock. This period also witnessed a significant growth in the profitability of agricultural organizations, reaching 13.3% in 2019, up from 7.5% in 2013. The pro-embargo has also had a positive impact on rural employment, with the agricultural sector providing job opportunities for those affected by the pandemic.