MOSCOW, October 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russian agricultural workers will soon strengthen their positions in domestic market, and also strengthen their international competitive position, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his best wishes letter to Russian farmers on Agricultural Workers Day.
“Russian agroindustrial complex has a big developmental potential, and the state will double its efforts to create conditions for further rise of agriculture, for secure food provision in the country. I am sure that our farmers will be the masters in their own domestic market, and also strengthen their international competitive position,” Putin wrote as quoted on the official Kremlin’s website.
Putin also highlighted that Russian agricultural workers show good results, and that agriculture strengthens its significant position in strategic, key sector of national economy.
On August 7, Russia introduced a one-year embargo on agricultural and food product imports from the countries that have imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Ukrainian crisis, namely Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United States and Norway. The list of banned products includes meat, poultry, fish, seafood, milk, dairy products and fruit and vegetables.
The move came in response to several rounds of Western sanctions against Russian officials and companies amid the escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the counter-measure offered Russian agricultural producers a unique chance to replace imports with homemade foods.
