Putin: Russia needs a baby boom

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Photo / AP

Vladimir Putin has ordered his people to produce more babies.

The Russian prime minister is offering cash incentives to mothers who have a third child.

But the edict, which is aimed at halting an alarming population decline, was immediately ridiculed by internet bloggers.

One woman, Inna, said: "So, now we have to make love non-stop? In the USSR they said there was no sex. In the Russian Federation it's have sex then take the money."

Another said: "If a woman doesn't want to give birth, nothing will change it, no matter where he puts his money."

Mr Putin warned that without action the country's 142million population could slump 50 million by 2050.

Numbers have fallen by 2.5million since 2000 due to low birth rates and premature deaths through alcohol and drugs abuse.