UPDATE: Ag Min raises Russia’s grain harvest forecast to 106 mln tns ‘18

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MOSCOW, Oct 9 (PRIME) -- The Russian Agriculture Ministry has raised the 2018 grain harvest forecast to 106 million tonnes in net weight from 105 million tonnes, Minister Dmitry Patrushev said at a meeting on development of agriculture on Tuesday.

“In general, we plan to harvest 106 million tonnes in net weight, which is at the level of the state plan and a little higher than on average in the last 10 years,” Patrushev said.

President Vladimir Putin said that Russia’s food exports reached U.S. $13 billion in January–July.

“Agricultural exports grew to $13 over seven months of this year,” Putin said.

He said that Russia’s agricultural product output increased by more than 20% for the last five years and called the dynamics a breakthrough. Still, Russia is not self-sufficient in production of fruit, vegetables, dairy products and beef.

According to Patrushev, farmers sustained 6.6 billion rubles of losses from emergencies in 2018. “Emergency was introduced in 26 regions as a result of weather conditions, floods or hail. Expert appraisal has been made in 22 regions. The amount of loss sustained by farmers is 6.6 billion rubles. ”

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that a state program of agricultural equipment subsidies needs to continue for at least five years. According to Putin, the program will require about 8 billion rubles a year.

Putin said that the program of village sustainable development will be prolonged after 2021.

(66.9685 rubles – U.S. $1)

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