India’s experience in Russia

By Vestnik Kavkaza

In the context of the rejection of some European products, Russia is not only developing import substitution, but is also seeking new partners who could fill the niches that have appeared in the food market. One such partner could be India.

Alexander Khamidullin, a member of the Commission for Agricultural Complex Affairs and Development of Rural Areas of Russia of the Russian Public Chamber, has many times heard from Indian partners that it is very difficult to enter the Russian market with their food products: “Obviously, there are no market niches. Competition is high. At the moment, we have perfect conditions for an increase of mutual trade turnover, cooperation in the sphere of agricultural production and imports of food products from self-sufficient India which provides 98% of its internal demand for food products. Today we have perfect conditions for opening new opportunities – import substitution is being implemented, the role of other countries is growing, including India’s, and first of all India’s, in our food product packet.”

Pyotr Shelish, the chairman of the Russian Union of Consumers, says that the task to feed people has been historically common both for Russia and India: “In the history of India and in the history of Russia starvation, which was connected with poor harvests and natural disasters played a huge role. When I found out that India had established a Ministry of Consumer Rights Protection, Food Supplies, and Social Distribution, I was envious, as I wish such a structure was in the system of the Russian power system.”

According to Pyotr Shelish, such a ministry reflects the system of values of the Indian society. “The values and the fact that last year India adopted an unprecedented program of supply support to its population, which has no analogues in the world or the whole of human history, inspires me, as a consumer rights activist. In Russia there are people, even though they are not numerous, but still there are people who systematically starve. The state’s duty is to eliminate such a situation; children and grown-ups shouldn’t suffer. And the government’s role cannot be substituted in this situation,” Shelish stated.

As for farms, the chairman of the Russian Union of Consumers stresses that five years ago the share of farms in the whole volume of agricultural production was only 3%, w hhilast year it surpassed 10%: “In money terms, considering the general growth of agricultural production in 1.5 times, farms double increased their revenues. In volume terms, i.e. comparable prices, the volume produced by farms increased by one third. So, we believe their role will grow. I think it is very important for Russia to use India’s experience on support of distribution of seed material for reasonable prices and distribution of food supplies which are produced by farmers among poor people by the state. The experience should be studied and implemented in our country.”