Mikhail Mishchenko: Siberia does not need to increase milk production

‘Please note: the region is almost completely provided with raw milk. This milk is processed, and a large number of dairy products are produced in terms of raw milk,’ said Mikhail Mishchenko. 

The expert noted that in order to understand the situation, it is important to look at the Siberian Federal District in context, comparing it with other regions. To illustrate, the analyst chose Moscow region. 

‘To understand the prospects: the population of the entire Siberian Federal District is 19 million people, a similar figure is in Moscow region, and in Siberia the population is declining while in Moscow it is growing. The number of cows in Siberia is larger, milk production is also higher than in Moscow region. The market volume in Moscow region is much larger than in the Siberian Federal District, and the production equivalent in the Siberian Federal District is larger. Consumption in Siberia per capita is less than in Moscow region,’ Mikhail Mishchenko commented.   

The expert concluded: all this suggests that in the current conditions it is not necessary to increase the production of raw milk in Siberia. The Siberian Federal District is self-sufficient in milk, and dairy products produced here are unlikely to be in demand in Central Russia. 

The only way out of this situation, according to the speaker, will be the development of exports of dairy products in the region.

Earlier, Mikhail Mishchenko said that the Altai region may soon turn from a cheese region into a meat region.