Official: Russia could raise grain crop, but lacks storage space

MOSCOW, Jun 8 (PRIME) -- Russia could boost its grain harvest to 115-120 million tonnes but there would be nowhere to store it, Pyotr Chekmaryov, director of the Agriculture Ministry’s crop growing department, told PRIME in an interview published Monday.

“100 million tonnes of grain (forecasted for 2015) is, in fact, the figure which is really enough for us. If we produce 115-120 million tonnes, we will have nowhere to put it due to the current infrastructure. The price will fall and will be much lower than the prime cost,” Chekmaryov said.

Processing capacities of the country must grow in line with the harvest increase, Chekmaryov said.

The harvest growth will fall to 1.1% in 2015 from 3.7% in 2014, the official said.

End