The forecast for the harvest of grain and leguminous crops in Russia in 2012 will be reduced to 77-80 million tons from 83-86 million tons due to drought, the head of Roshydromet, Alexander Frolov said, RIA-Dagestan reports.
Frolov said, however, that the forecast for this year is nevertheless better than crops harvested in 2010 which was catastrophic for Russian agriculture.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that despite the unfortunate news he is happy that the scenario of 2010 is not going to repeat. Premier also ordered his deputy Arcady Dvorkovich to prepare necessary measures to financially support agriculture in regions affected by drought.
Earlier today, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Igor Manylov reported that the direct damage from the drought according to expert estimates, will amount to 32-33 billion rubles. As a result of drought already 4.4 million hectares have been affected in Russia, which account to 5-6% of cultivated areas.
Drought-affected regions of Russia to receive governmental support
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