Roman Kopin, Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Area, asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase reindeer herding subsidies for Arctic areas, RIA Novosti reports.

Kopin told the President that Ministry of Agriculture programs listed Arctic reindeer herding on a par with horse-herding, despite very different climatic conditions and relevant expenses.

Under the federal program, reindeer breeders receive 150-ruble subsidies per animal, and this is not enough, Kopin noted.

"As the region remains a net recipient, no matter what, it would be justified to revise the Arctic reindeer herding criteria," Kopin said and noted that the reindeer herding sector was vitally important for indigenous ethnic groups.

"This also helps to provide local population with meat. Currently, we are processing about 1,500 metric tons of reindeer meat for canned food, dumplings, smoked meats, sausages, dried and cut slices. On the whole, we are growing, and we believe that this is very important today, in the context of import substitution and ensuring national food security," Kopin noted.