November 9, 2006

Russian poultry production up 20 percent this year

Poultry production in Russia increased by 18.8 percent in the nine months of the year and reached almost the 1990 level of 180,000 tonnes, the Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday (Nov 8).

The poultry industry is the best sector adapted to modern production methods of the Russian agro-industrial business, Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said.

He believes the achievement is a milestone for the industry as Russian production nears its previous peak.

With average poultry consumption at 18.8 kilogrammes per person, only seven regions can meet their own poultry needs. Only a little more than half the regions in Russia can meet more than 50 percent of their poultry needs.

Russia still imports the majority of its poultry from the US.