Mr Zubkov said the domestic meat output growth rate was encouraging. The past three years saw a growth of 13.5%, including a 6.5% increment in 2008. Poultry production grew by 15%, and pork, by 7%.
In 2006-2008, domestic meat production grew two times faster than imports, while average per capita meat consumption increased by 7 kg, to 63 kg a year.
In 2008 alone, 22 broiler poultry farms were commissioned and 63 reopened after modernisation, as well as 82 and 80 pork husbandry farms, respectively. This increased overall poultry output by 220,000 metric tons and 244,000 tons of pork.
As a result, Mr Zubkov said, part of meat imports was replaced with similar products produced domestically, and therefore, import quotas for these types of meat could be lowered in 2009.
Yet, with the financial markets so tight, all investment projects involving construction of new pork and poultry farms need to be kept permanently under control.
Mr Zubkov pointed out the need to use more effectively the beef breeding stock provided by Rosagroleasing. "Livestock genetics should be improved, and the share of beef breed augmented. And they should be fattened," he added.
The meeting also focused on the positive effects of government support, especially subsidised agribusinesses' loan interest.
Mr Zubkov proposed further discussing these issues as well as meat processing, marketing and customs tariff policies at an expanded meeting to be held in March in one of Russia's regions, also attended by heads of Russian regions, of industrial associations, as well as meat producers and processing companies.