Food Independence and Economic Accessibility of Fruits

Issue № 1, 2023, article № 8, pages 79-85

Language: Russian

Original language title: ПРОДОВОЛЬСТВЕННАЯ НЕЗАВИСИМОСТЬ И ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКАЯ ДОСТУПНОСТЬ ФРУКТОВ

Keywords: GARDENING, FOOD INDEPENDENCE, ECONOMIC ACCESSIBILITY, ACCOMMODATION, SPECIALIZATION, COOPERATION, STATE SUPPORT

Abstract: The problem of food security in the sphere of fruit consumption has not been solved in Russia. The share of imports in the consumption of fruits, berries and grapes is 58.9%. An increase in their gross harvest and a reduction in imports have made it possible to increase food independence. In 2013-2021, fruit production increased from 3.2 to 4.7 million tons, or by 48.0%, and their imports decreased from 7.2 to 6.3 million tons, or by 12.5%. As a result, the level of self-sufficiency in fruits increased from 31.8% to 44.4% with its threshold value of 60%. The economic availability of fruits did not change during the period under review and amounted to 63% with a threshold value of 100%. To achieve the threshold values of indicators of food independence and economic accessibility of fruits provided for in the Food Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to increase fruit production to 8.8 million tons. The economic availability of fruits is affected not only by the volume of fruit production, their import, but also by consumer prices, which have high growth rates. For a significant part of the country's population, fruits are practically not available. To increase it, it is also necessary to ensure the growth of incomes of the population or provide social support. The role of certain categories of farms in providing the country's population with fruit and berry products is revealed. The main producers of gross output are households of the population (64.1%), commodity – agricultural organizations (58.9%). To ensure food security in the field of fruit consumption, it is necessary to increase state support for horticulture, increase the efficiency of budget allocations by developing a stimulating organizational and economic mechanism, lay fruit and berry plantations mainly in the most favourable areas for the development of industrial horticulture, concentrate the production of fruits and berries in specialized farms where there are opportunities for the organization of storage of products, develop marketing consumer cooperation.

Authors: Kulikov Ivan Mikhailovich, Minakov Ivan Alekseevich