You're reading: Russia’s grain harvest to reach 125 million tonnes in 2020

Russia's Agriculture Ministry predicts a grain harvest of 125 million tonnes in 2020 and export potential of 41.5 million tonnes.

These figures are contained in a government agriculture development program for 2013-2020 that was compiled by the Agriculture Ministry.

This growth can be achieved through stabilization of the grain crop area at 50 million hectares, increasing cereal crops to 2.14 million hectares and legumes to 2.54 million. In addition, grain crop yield should be no less than 2.5 tonnes per hectares, the cereals yield 1.8 tonnes per hectares and legumes – 2.7 tonnes per hectare.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 42 million tonnes in 2020 (22.2 million tonnes in 2010). The crop area should stabilize at 1.2 million hectares and yield should be 35 tonnes per hectare. The crop area for soya and rapeseed should be increased in order to bring the harvests to 3.75 million tonnes (1.2 million tonnes in 2010) and 1.54 million (670,100 tonnes), respectively. Sunflower seed production is forecast at 7.5 million tonnes (5.3 million) potatoes at 34 million tonnes (21.1 million) and open soil vegetables at 16.2 million tonnes (11.5 million tonnes).

Over 560 billion rubles in federal budget funds is to be spent on the program.

The draft program also envisages a 39% increase in agriculture production compared to 2010 (27.6% up on 2009), including a 63.1% climb in crop production (25.7% more than 2009) and 25% for livestock (29.3%).

Total funding for the 2013-2020 program should total over 3.5 trillion rubles, including direct subsidies and loan interest rate subsidies.