February 5 2004, 10:06

Russia: grain crop forecast in 2004-2006

Grain crop in Russia in 2004 will constitute 78 to 80 million tonnes against 67.2 million tonnes in 2003. In the year 2006 the production of grain will reach 84 to 86 million tonnes - such forecasts are contained in the updated socio-economic development forecast of the country's agro-industrial complex in 2004 and up to the year 2006, which has been prepared by the Economy and Finance Department of the Agriculture Ministry.

The Ministry has based its 2004 forecast on the fact that sown area of winter crops has increased this year to 16 million hectares from 15 million hectares in 2003; the area of spring grains has increased to 34 million hectares.

In 2003 grains in the country were sown on the total area of 42.6 million hectares, which was by 5 million hectares less than in 2002. The area of winter grains was by 1.9 million hectares lower than the year before. The 2003 crop was affected by unfavourable weather conditions.