Russian grain supplies to Africa to start within 1.5 months - agriculture minister

MOSCOW. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Russian grain supplies to African countries will start within a month and a half, Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said.

"We are now completing the work on all documents. I think they will go within one to 1.5 months," Patrushev told reporters in reply to a question on when grain supplies to Africa will start.

As reported, President Vladimir Putin said at the Russia-Arica forum in July that Russia was ready to supply from 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain to several African countries free of charge in the coming months. He was referring to supplies to Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Mali, Somalia and Zimbabwe. Grain delivery will also be free.

Russia has been actively developing commercial grain supplies to Africa in the past few years. Previously, grain was supplied mainly to the northern part of the continent, and this year grain is being actively exported on other tracks as well. Major buyers include Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, and others.

Russian exporters regard African countries as one of the most promising destinations for grain supply.