OREANDA-NEWS.  November 05, 2014. Minister of Agriculture Ivari Padar said in his Farmer of the Year Awards speech Tuesday night that Estonian farmers and food producers are targeting new markets in Asia and Africa to counteract the impacts of Russian sanctions.

Padar said that the sanctions set by Russia on food import have put many Estonian producers in a difficult position, reports Maaleht. This has forced producers to look for new markets where to sell their produce.

Of the more exotic markets, Estonian producers currently export whey powder to the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Nigeria and South Korea; wheat to Iraq, frozen mackerel to the Faeroe Islands, wheat flour to Aruba and frozen chicken drumsticks to Laos.

In addition, Trinidad and Tobago imports Estonian cooking oil and the Seychelles malt beer, cider, mead and other fermented drinks.

The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing "Estonian Food" development plan for 2015-20 to develop the food and agriculture sectors, make their image more positive in the global market and increase export.