The vegetable market: problems and prospects.

摘要

Overall vegetable production in Russia during the first half of 1998 remained essentially on the same level as in 1997. The market share of corporate agricultural enterprises continued to fall but was compensated by increased production by subsidiary and other individual holdings. It was expected that the financial crisis in the second half of the year would increase demand for easily storable vegetables and depress that for more expensive protected crops, a substantial proportion of which are imported. Costs of protected cropping were also expected to rise and be reflected in pricing. Consumption of vegetables remained lower than the officially recommended norm, and the market generally continued to develop slowly. The role of wholesale markets is seen as especially important in view of contraction in sales by established procurement organisations. Seasonal price fluctuations for different vegetables during 1998 reflected those in the previous years. It was expected, however, that early 1999 would see significant price rises for less common vegetables. There were increasing differences between ex-farm and wholesale-retail prices. Development of alternative channels of sale directly by producers to purchasers could reduce these margins and increase the volume of sales.