The winter grain crop in Russia, one of the world's largest wheat exporters, may fall more than 40 percent this year due to poor planting conditions, Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing Agriculture Ministry materials. This year's winter crop may total only 28 million to 30 million tonnes, down from 48 million tonnes last year if plants are lost on the 3.6 million hectares currently in bad condition, the agency said.
Prospects for the full-year crop also look weak compared with last year's near-record 104 million tonnes as the rouble's slump has pushed import costs and interest rates up, making it more expensive for farmers to sow. Under the current plan, spring grains and pulses will be sown on 31.7 million hectares, down 2.2 percent year-on-year, Interfax said. However, part of the winter grains currently in bad condition may be restored in spring, Arkady Zlochevsky, head of the Grain Union, told reporters this week.
The Agriculture Ministry declined to comment. In early February, it said 21 percent of winter grains were in bad condition and that it expected a grain crop in a range of 85 million to 100 million tonnes this year, with 20-30 million tonnes available for export.
Comments
Comments are closed.