The Russian senator from the Kurgan Region, Sergey Lisovsky, has recently held talks with top Tajik lawmakers and regional governors concerning a possible increase of food deliveries to Russia. According to the senator, the former Soviet republic can replace Poland as a major exporter of apples. Tajikistan can deliver 750 thousand tons of apples per year, the Russian lawmaker says.
Lisovsky, who is also a former entrepreneur, says he welcomes Russia's ban on European and American food imports. "I believe the decision made by President Vladimir Putin will make Russia healthier. Fruit and vegetables produced in Europe, even if they are not dangerous, are not exactly healthy. The agricultural production in Europe is intensified by the usage of chemical substances and new technologies. European countries have to use such methods because land is very scarce there. As a result fruit and vegetables delivered to Russia are often tasteless and lack vitamins. Moreover, they may cause allergic reactions, especially among kids. It's not because Europeans deliver bad products, it's because they simply have nothing else," he said.
"I have just returned from Tajikistan. I spent three days there. I held talks with the chairman of the upper chamber of the Tajik parliament and the governors of the Dushanbinskya and Sogdiyskaya Regions. These regions are the country's major producers of fruit and vegetables. In the Sogdiyskaya Region, for instance, there are 300 kinds of apricots, dozens of different kinds of grapes and vegetables. Sometimes it is possible to reap harvest twice a year. Unfortunately the amount of products exported to Russia isn't great - only 200 thousand tons. In fact, Tajikistan is ready to increase deliveries right now. They are ready to deliver 1 million tons of fruit and vegetables. For instance, Tajikistan alone can replace Poland as the major provider of apples. Tajikistan is able to deliver 750 thousand tons of apples," the senator said.
Today a delegation of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) is going to visit Turkey in order to negotiate a possible increase of food deliveries from the country. Russia is particularly interested in poultry and dairy products. According to Lisovsky, Russia can easily replace European products. "We can easily find substitutes for European products. We were doing our best to improve ties with Europe, that is very arrogant and does not want our friendship, but we forgot about many other countries who need us and who are interested in mutual cooperation. Many things cannot be produced in Russia. This means that we should import them from neighbouring states, including the countries of Central Asia, but we have to produce our own food as well," he said.
Sergey Lisovsky told Vestnik Kavkaza in an interview that unfortunately the North Caucasus is no longer a successful agricultural region. "The region is not a major producer of meat, fruit and vegetables, even though it should be. Mountains are always favourable for agriculture. The North Caucasus is a unique region, unfortunately we do not use its advantages," the senator said.
According to the lawmaker, the region's potential should be rediscovered. "The demand for meat, for lamb, for example, is very strong, but Chechnya produces only 10 percent of the meat it used to produce before. I believe they can increase the production using the new opportunities. I think other republics of the North Caucasus can also increase the production of meat," he said.
