Assessment of the State of Reproduction and the Milk Market in Conditions of Food Self-Sufficiency of the Region

The development of the milk food market and the level of food independence of the region set trends in the development of the milk reproduction process. The level of self-sufficiency of the region’s population, the level of economic accessibility of food, the development of market relations, exports and imports depend on the type of milk reproduction. Reproduction and market issues are considered from different perspectives: production and satisfaction of needs, but they are closely intertwined and, giving an assessment as a whole from both positions, it is possible to cover the current situation in the region in more detail.The purpose of the study. The purpose of the research is to analyze reproduction and assess the current situation on the milk market and dairy products in the conditions of food independence of the Irkutsk region and to develop recommendations for their development.Materials and methods. The study uses normative, reference and statistical information. The empirical base of the study was made up of data from the Federal State Statistics Service, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Irkutsk region, accounting statements of agricultural organizations, and publications in open sources. The object of the study is the supply of milk and dairy products in the Irkutsk region on the market. Statistical methods were used in the paper: descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, dynamic series analysis, monographic and other research methodsResults. The conducted assessment revealed that the average annual rate of decline in production volumes of milk in the Irkutsk region is 0,15%. The number of cows decreases by 32,22%, which affects the volume of production; they decrease, in turn, the productivity of cows increases by 74,34%, which compensates for the decrease in livestock, but not enough to conduct an expanded reproductive process. The main producers are the households of the population, which indicates the high labor intensity of the products. Irkutsk region is provided with milk of its own production by 87,6%, which does not correspond to the approved level of food independence (more than 90%). The economic accessibility of food has the highest value of 61,85% in 2021-2022. It shows that the population of the Irkutsk region consumes milk less than the rational norm of its consumption meeting the requirements of a healthy diet by 38,15%. Conclusion. According to the results of the study, the following conclusions can be drawn: milk reproduction in the region has a narrowed type; the region has not reached the level of food independence for milk; the economic accessibility of milk does not reach the established value in the doctrine of food security, which indicates that the population consumes milk less than the rational consumption rate established for medical reasons. A further increase in the level of food security is possible if an expanded type of reproduction process is achieved and maintained, which in modern conditions in the Irkutsk region is achievable with great effort, since the region has been exposed to a disease of cattle (nodular dermatitis) and the infected livestock is eliminated by burning, which will affect production volumes. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Irkutsk region is taking all necessary measures to normalize the situation and eliminate the consequences, as well as to support the affected agricultural producers