January 19, 2012

Russia to produce 90 million tonnes grain in 2012

With government spending on crop increasing expected to raise 4% to RUB46.5 billion (US$1.5 billion), Russia will harvest at least 90 million tonnes of grain in 2012, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik said on Tuesday (Jan 17).

Russia's strategic task is to sow spring crops on an area of 50.8 million hectares or 300,000 hectares more than last year, including 30.3 million hectares for grain and legume crops, she said.

"With favourable weather conditions, Russia will be able to harvest at least 90 million tonnes of grain crops," she said.

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov has said Russia's grain crop will exceed the 93.8 million tonnes harvested last year.

Russia banned wheat, barley and rye exports in August 2010 to ward off food price hikes after an extreme heat wave scorched more than one-third of the country's grain crop.