Observations on Regional Aspects of Food Availability in Russia

A senior CIA analyst surveys a broad range of factors that are affecting food availability in Russia's regions. These include diverse environmental conditions affecting agricultural production, regional economic specializations reflecting priorities imposed by the Soviet system of central planning, variable progress in agrarian reform and in the role of the private sector, pronounced spatial patterns of food processing, regional differences in food preference and consumption, local policies regarding food price subsidies, personal income, availability of imports, and interregional trade ties. Although the influence of these factors on Russia's progress toward a Western-style market for food products cannot always be documented precisely and completely, enough evidence is accumulating to indicate important directions of change. 2 figures, 3 tables, 13 references.