29 Nov 2010 15:49

Russia plans to up spring crop-planting by 2.9 mln hectares - Putin

MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Russia will plant 49.8 million hectares of spring crops next year, 2.9 million more than this year, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.

"In the spring of 2011, the plan is to increase the spring planting by 2.9 million hectares. The overall land planted will be 49.8 million hectares, where 46.9 million hectares were planted in 2010," Putin said at a selector meeting addressing aid to growers who were harmed by this summer's fierce heat and drought.