Russian farmers appeal to president to lift export duty on grain

MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - The presidium of Russia's AKKOR association of farmers and agricultural cooperatives has decided to appeal to President Vladimir Putin to lift the export duty on grain.

"With the aim of maintaining the targeted rates of production growth, we ask you to facilitate the launch of large-scale intervention trading, as well as the lifting of the export duty on grain crops," the appeal, citing in an AKKOR press release, said.

This is necessary due to the current price situation on the grain market, the association said.

"The main issue worrying farmers today is the situation with prices for the 2022 harvest. Harvest work is now actively underway, and a good harvest is expected. However, grain prices on the market have collapsed. With the significant growth of costs, current prices do not cover the expenditures made," AKKOR said.

This is not the first time that farmers have raised the issue of lifting export duties. At AKKOR's 33rd congress in February, association president Vladimir Plotnikov said that if the duty remains in place "grain production will become low-margin and we will lose the progressive gains made in recent years." The "export duty needs to be lifted," he added.