April 4, 2012

Russia seeks to boost soy output by 2020

Russia is planning to stimulate the production of the main crops, including a rise of soy production to 3.75 million tonnes by 2020.

The development of soy production sector in the Russian Federation is the important task, especially in terms of securing the needs of the livestock industry in feed protein supplies, stated Elena Skrynnik, Minister of Agriculture of Russia.

The Minister recalled that last year the Russian Federation produced the record soy harvest - 1.7 million tonnes with the average yield of 14.8 c/ha (in 2010 - 1.2 million tonnes, 11.8 c/ha). The Far Eastern Federal District and the Lake Baikal region produced over 70% of the general Russian production volume.

In the current year agricultural enterprises of all categories in the Russian Federation will increase soy sowing areas by 137,500 ha (1.3 million ha).

According E. Skrynnik, in order to support soy production, since June last year the Government continues realising the industrial target programme "Development of soybean production and processing in the Russian Federation for 2011-2013". The programme, in particular, provides the increase of soy sowing areas to the level of 1.5 million ha in 2013, the capacity for processing of oilseeds, including soy - from the level of 4,614,000 tonnes in 2010 to 6,286,000 tonnes in 2013.

The package of measures is included to the new state programme by 2020. The list of measures includes stimulation of production of the main crops: an increase of soy production to 3.75 million tonnes, based on enlarging of the sowing areas to 2.5 million ha and increase of the average yield.