Russian agriculture: regional specialization is increasing (case study: meat poultry sector)

Vyatka State Agricultural Academy, 610017, Oktyabrsky Avenue, 133, Kirov, Russia

^* Corresponding author: kostenko_ov@vgsha.info

Abstract

This paper presents the results of studies of regional specialization and territorial concentration in agriculture. The poultry meat branch was chosen as the object of research. This is one of the most dynamically developing sectors of agriculture in Russia. Modified localization coefficients were used as a method for detecting the territorial concentration of the sector. The analysis showed that more than half of the output of poultry meat products was concentrated in the territory of 12 regions of Russia. The largest localization of poultry farming is in the center of the European part of the country, near large cities. The level of territorial concentration of the poultry meat sector increased significantly over the period of 2004–2017. The localization coefficients of the regions that specialize in poultry meat production have more than doubled. There is an increase in “polarity” in the specialization of regions. Some regions continue to increase the production of poultry meat, the level of regional specialization is growing. In other regions, poultry production is declining. Taking the poultry meat sector as a case study, it has been shown that the processes of regional specialization and territorial localization are increasing in Russian agriculture.