Russia Agriculture Ministry tentatively sees 2016 harvest at 104 mln tns

MOSCOW, Jan 27 (PRIME) -- The Russian Agriculture Ministry’s preliminary grain harvest forecast for 2016 stands at 104 million tonnes, the same as in 2015, Pyotr Chekmaryov, a department director at the ministry, told reporters Wednesday.

“The figure is 104, and we have to fulfill it, this is our goal,” he said, adding that the final result will depend on how the crops survive winter hibernation.

“As soon as winter crops grow, we will understand their preservation and will be able to give the first (real) forecast, because winter crops account for 45% of gross grain harvest on average. We will make a second forecast as soon as we finish sowing. We will see whether we have sown all areas and what cultures were sown.”

This year’s weather is better than last year as more snow means less chances of frost-killing, he added.

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