Opportunities and problems of import substitution (the example of apple production)

In modern conditions, Russia has increased the need to expand the scale of import substitution and increase the level of self-sufficiency, including food. The possibilities of achieving these goals are considered in this paper on the example of such a mass-demand product as apples. The spread of ideas about a healthy lifestyle and the usefulness of fruits stimulates a steady increase in demand for apples all over the world, including Russia. Moreover, from the point of view of natural and climatic conditions, the country has a significant potential for increasing the volume of production of fresh apples. In recent years, thanks to the policy of import substitution, significant progress has been observed in domestic fruit growing. Nevertheless, Russia remains one of the largest importers of apples in the world, and the problems of the industry’s development are obvious. The analysis of statistical data and scientific information, as well as industry reviews and expert materials that are publicly available, allows us to identify both obstacles to increasing the effective production of apples in the country, and ways to overcome them. The results of the study show that the increase in national apple production largely depends on the development of related industries, primarily the relevant branches of mechanical engineering and experimental breeding activities. At the same time, the priority of state support should be the development of experimental production facilities, acting as a link between scientific and technical innovations and serial production. Of course, Russia does not need autarky and is not profitable. However, a sufficiently high level of self-sufficiency, especially agricultural and machine-building products, is necessary. The conclusions made in the course of the study can serve to improve the theory and the import substitution policy based on it, as well as to adjust regulatory actions in the process of state management of the economy.
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