MOSCOW, 4 February (BelTA) - Economic difficulties across the globe caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have not affected food security of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Member of the Board – Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission Artak Kamalyan said during an online press conference from Almaty on 4 February. A meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council featuring the EAEU heads of government will be held there on 5 February, BelTA has learned.
“As for the food security, we can feed ourselves. If by food security we mean food supply, quality and safety of food, then the coronavirus pandemic had absolutely little impact in this part,” said Artak Kamalyan.
According to the EEC minister, the pandemic had little impact in terms of economic availability of food. “In any case, taking both the previous and ongoing years, the EAEU provides itself almost in full if we talk about all commodity groups of food. The only commodity group that is import-dependent is fruits and berries. There were certain problems with the yield of sugar beet and its sugar content due to weather conditions. Anyway, the existing reserve (about 1 million tonnes) is enough not to feel sugar deficit this year,” said Artak Kamalyan.
