A single digital livestock market will unite farmers of the four countries

Great interest of livestock breeders and businessmen who attended the exhibition "KazAgro/KazFarm-2021" was caused by another meeting of the Eurasian Meat Union held in the format of a round table. That was where the participants were told about a new project - the creation of a single digital platform for trade in farm animals of the Eurasian Meat Union, reports World of NAN.

Ivan Kondrashov, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Union of Beef Producers of the Russian Federation, noted in his speech that the development of the project was preceded by the study of experience in many countries where digital platforms have helped achieve business transparency, traceability of animals in transit and the establishment of trust between partners. The unified system should allow farmers to sell livestock at a fair price and on favorable terms using digital technology. At the same time, all commodity livestock published on the platform will be verified by on-the-ground partners, the Eurasian Livestock Market Network, which includes Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

"Now Russia is working with partners on accreditation and selection, that is, we are looking for those who can become a "livestock market." These will be professional participants of live cattle trades. For example, there is a large enterprise in Bashkiria, which has a large number of cattle. They allocate a separate land, which fits all the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor, has a permit to export animals in the EEU and to foreign countries. Has the appropriate personnel, is responsible for the standards and safety of animals. At the same time, I want to emphasize that our goal is not single sales, but the systematic sale of livestock. The digital platform should become a kind of analogue of the institution of professional brokers and financial institutions in the form of banks, which provide their services", - says I. Kondrashov.

According to the speaker, the digital platform will open up opportunities for small farmers to do business. Brokers will protect their interests on the livestock market. Individuals and organizations that work with small farmers may act as brokers. They are difficult to reach for potential clients, and brokers will collect their goods, i.e. a certain amount of cattle in one batch and put up for auction.

Asylzhan Mamytbekov, member of the Board of the Meat Union of Kazakhstan, who spoke at the round table, expressed confidence that the launch of a single platform will strengthen the existing integration processes at the B2B business level. Taking the opportunity, he immediately responded to the arguments of journalists as to whether the Eurasian Meat Union refers to state structures.

"It has nothing to do with state structures. This is a business association of different countries. We share experience," noted A. Mamytbekov. According to him, joining efforts, members of the Eurasian Meat Union want to be heard and try to influence the decisions of state bodies and the government on new initiatives, prohibitions.

For example, Asylzhan Mamytbekov is convinced that the state should not consider the development of meat cattle breeding as a tool to ensure food security of the country and the way to reduce prices for meat products inside the country.

"This is a dead-end way. It should be understood that closing exports leads to a decrease in demand. Cattle breeding will develop only when the products are in demand. We are a self-sufficient country for meat. Prices will not rise higher than in neighboring countries. And they will even be less, due to the absence of transportation costs," - stressed the speaker.