Gardeners proposed banning the import of fruit seedlings into the country

Three horticultural associations – the Association of Nursery Growers and Gardeners of the Stavropol Territory, the Association of Gardeners of Russia and the Union of Gardeners of the Kuban – proposed to completely ban the import of foreign fruit tree seedlings from 2024. They sent an appeal to the Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev on September 21. The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed receipt of such a proposal and promised to “consider it in due course.”

Chairman of the Association of Nursery Growers and Gardeners of the Stavropol Territory Aidyn Shirinov explains that the ban on the import of seedlings is necessary for the development of domestic production. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2022, 74% of fruit tree seedlings used by farmers were of Russian origin. Supplies of imported seedlings come mainly from Serbia and EU countries, primarily Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, Shirinov points out. At the same time, the total demand for such products used for growing pome fruits (apples and pears) in 2022, according to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, amounted to 20.5 million units. The association “Gardeners of Kuban” estimates the Russian seedling market at 6.25 billion rubles. in year.