Prospects of organic poultry production in Leningrad region

Abstract

The interest to the organic foodstuffs grows steadily all over the world. Nowadays this segment of Russian food market is characterized by high degree of import dependence and relatively low share of domestic producers, mainly small scale farmers and backyard producers. There are expectations, that production of ecologically clean poultry meat and eggs will occupy larger market share. The article describes the challenges, which face producers of organic products in the Leningrad Region. This Region id evaluated as an area of risky crop production and agriculture here takes high economical expenses. The paper discusses prospects of further development of the organic products in Leningrad Region and considers some topics: Which type of poultry is most suitable for organic production? Who can act as an organic poultry producer in Leningrad Region? In the paper is analyzed dynamics of the eggs and poultry meat production and birds number in Leningrad Region totally and in small farms. There is stressed, that the small scale producers, who begin to deal with organic poultry husbandry often meet financial losses due to not proper management of organic production. They keep hopes on the new Federal Law, related to the organic agriculture, which, as expected, should stimulate organic poultry production. The author underlines, that in the Regions of Russian Federation year to year the authorities pay more attention to the problems of farmers and there are financed various programs, aimed to support small scale producers. In spite of all challenges Leningrad Region has a big potential for development of organic poultry production.