Labour shortages will undermine Russian agriculture

Significance Russia’s remarkable agricultural recovery during the past 15 years has progressed despite recession, global pandemic, higher fuel prices, Western sanctions and war in Ukraine. However, a widespread labour shortage is an intractable obstacle that risks derailing Russia’s agricultural ascent. In the context of relatively low levels of farm mechanisation and with the digital revolution barely registering across the agricultural sector, farm personnel remain crucially important. Impacts The employment of seasonal migrant workers for unskilled field work will only help alleviate some of the personnel deficit. Digital technologies may expand the cultivated agricultural land area but would also exacerbate personnel shortages. The departure of an estimated 500,000-750,000 working-age men to escape conscription will aggravate labour shortages in villages.