Area where crops need to be replanted in Russia due to frosts is about 900,000 hectares - Agriculture Minister

MOSCOW. May 17 (Interfax) - The area where crops need to be replanted due to frosts is close to 900,000 hectares.

"We have a bad situation in terms of frosts. The weather this year is letting us down a little, and we actually have - now we'll see what happens in Krasnodar; there was hail there yesterday - about 900,000 hectares to replant," Minister of Agriculture Oksana Luth said at the Technological Support for Food Security plenary session on Friday at the Russia International Exhibition and Forum.

The ministry said that crops were lost to frost on 830,000 hectares the day before.

In these conditions, agricultural producers are asking for the opportunity to purchase imported seeds for replanting, Luth said. "But, you see, imported breeds all come from unfriendly countries, so if we stay with imported breeds, then the royalties go to unfriendly countries," she said.

Luth said that domestic seed growers are now paying attention to their seeds. Some are ready to provide them to farmers free of charge. "The overwhelming majority of companies said that they understand that money is tight now, and are ready to defer until November 1, that is, until the harvest is received, and then pay for the seeds," the minister said.

As reported, this year, due to May frosts, seven regions introduced states of emergency for agriculture. Analysts have recently significantly reduced their grain harvest forecasts for the year.