Russia expects 6-percent growth of meat production in 2010

Russian meat production is expected to surge 6 percent to reach 10.5 million tons, said the Ministry of Agriculture in a Friday report.

The Russian government has increased its funding on domestic meat producers, particularly on poultry meat producers, said the report, aiming to meet domestic demand while realizing meat exportation.

Some 4.7 billion rubles (around 160.5 million U.S. dollars) from federal and regional finances has been used to spur poultry meat production, statistics showed.

In all, 124 relevant projects are currently underway in Russia, with the total production estimated at 646,000 tons.

According to a food security doctrine approved in February, the share of domestic meat and meat products in the country's market should be no less than 85 percent.