Russian growers want 3-year ban on Turkish tomatoes

Russian agricultural producers are pleading for the government to keep the ban on Turkish tomatoes in place for three more years to gain dominance on the Russian market, the president of the Russian Union of Vegetable Producers told TASS.

"By 2020, we will de-facto dominate our own market in tomatoes and cucumbers. As far as cucumbers are concerned, we have already gained dominance on the market," Sergei Korolyov said. "With regard to tomatoes, we need about three years to ensure the dominant position, namely to occupy 80-90% of the market."

According to Korolyov’s estimates, nearly 40-50% of tomatoes and 80% of cucumbers sold in Russia are domestically produced. The figure stood at 18% before Russia imposed the embargo.

"The investments that have been made allow us to say that by 2020 we will substitute nearly all imports of greenhouse vegetables," he said, adding that Russia has invested over 150 billion roubles (over $2.6 billion) in agricultural projects in the past four years. Those projects need eight years to come to fruition.

source: tass.com