10 Oct 2024 21:24

Russian 2024 grain harvest forecast lowered to 130 mln tonnes, wheat to 83 mln tonnes

MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Russia's grain harvest this year will amount to about 130 million tonnes, including 83 million tonnes of wheat.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev gave the new forecast on the sidelines of the Golden Autumn 2024 exhibition on Thursday.

"The gross grain harvest will be about 130 million tonnes, including 83 million tonnes of wheat," Patrushev said.

The previous official forecast was 132 million tonnes, including 84 million tonnes of wheat.

"Given how well equipped our farmers are, we are expecting a decent harvest for the year, which will enable us to meet domestic market demand in full and maintain a high export potential for both raw materials and processed products," he said.

Patrushev said 122 million tonnes of grain had been harvested to date. "So Russia's food security is guaranteed, and the potential for export is not bad already," he said.

Regarding the sector's preliminary results in 2024, Patrushev said Russian farmers had faced unprecedentedly challenging weather conditions this year. "In the spring, a number of regions suffered from recurring frosts, in the summer from drought and during harvesting from heavy rains," he said.

Siberian farmers are completing their harvest amid difficult climatic conditions. In addition, winter sowing continues, and this is not lagging behind last year. The sown winter crop area exceeds 13 million hectares today.

Patrushev also said the first five-year cycle of the state program for the comprehensive development of rural areas would end in 2024. More than 5,000 public and social infrastructure facilities have appeared or been upgraded in rural areas and more than 185,000 families have received housing will all amenities since the start of the state program. The state program will cover 14 million people in total by the end of the year.