The Russian government plans to lift the ban on this practice in order to support agricultural producers and stabilize prices.
On June 29, 2021, the government commission on legislative activity approved the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture. After approval by the State Duma, the amendments will enter into force.
If the changes are adopted, farmers will be able not only to open shops, but also to sell products on their land plots.
At the same time, there will be some restrictions and they are associated with the fact that it is not allowed to install non-stationary trade objects on the plots related to arable land, reclamation lands.
But, if it is impossible to put up a commercial tent on the field, then it will be possible to set it up next to the field.
It will also be allowed to organize trade in structures that are already part of the farm. For example, on a farm.
Selling their products where they are produced should allow farmers to reduce the cost of transporting goods to markets and fairs, which are often far away. And also not to bear the costs of injury and rental of trading places.
The proposed amendments are of particular importance in the sphere of interaction between farmers and retail chains.
Now farmers are practically unable to enter large trading platforms due to the fact that chains dictate their own terms to them: they lower prices, introduce the so-called «marketing fee», and return unsold goods back.
Such an initiative is still only one step in the development of farming, farmers believe.
It is needed, but then other steps are also needed: not all farms are located near the highways, and not all buyers will be ready to go to remote farms.
Therefore, it would be logical to allow farmers to trade directly in other regions, as well as to allow the construction of stationary premises for trading on farm fields, which will allow trading in products not only in season (due to weather conditions), but all year round.
