Russian govt thinking of increasing grain purchases for intervention fund by 7 mln to 10 mln tonnes per year - Abramchenko

MOSCOW. March 23 (Interfax) - The Russian government is thinking of increasing grain purchases for intervention fund by 7 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes per year, but more financing will be needed, Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko said following the government's report to the State Duma.

"We are considering the possibility of increasing it to 10 million tonnes, this is another 7 million tonnes," she said, recalling that 3 million tonnes had already been purchased for the fund.

She said this would be at the center of the government's attention. "We are working on it now," she said.

"Money will be needed for this. This year, this is additional funding in the amount of 11 billion rubles, and in 2024-2025 it will be more than 20 billion rubles in order to ensure purchases for the intervention fund," she said.