ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the emergence of the new actors and structures in Russian agro-food sector. The concept of agro-food policy is new. In Russia, as in almost all other post-socialist countries, this policy has passed through two stages of evolution irrespective of other transformations in agriculture. The first stage in Russia began with price liberalization, reduction or abolition of state purchases of agro-food commodities, and an end to state direct plans for farms. In the second stage, agrarian protectionism has started to substitute for the euphoria of liberalization. At the beginning of the reforms, the main driving forces of agro-food policy were based on political contradictions, which can be roughly described as the opposition of liberals and conservatives. The federal government remains the major player in agro-food policy formation. The Federal Assembly is another arena of policy-making and lobbying in agro-food policy. Besides the Agrarian Party, there are numerous public organizations representing the interests of the various strata in agriculture.