FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/01 - RUSSIAN FEDERATION (3 November)

Grain harvest in 2001, estimated at some 82 million tonnes, is significantly higher than the 2000 harvest and the average production levels of the past five years at just over 71 million tonnes. This year’s production includes 43 million tonnes of wheat, 19.6 million tonnes of barley, 6 million tonnes of rye and 8 million tonnes of oats, which respectively compares with 38, 15.4, 5.9 and 6.5 million tonnes in 2000. Maize production has declined to about a million tonnes in 2001 compared with 1.5 million tonnes in 2000 due to prolonged hot and dry weather in July/August and rainy weather in October.

Winter planting has been progressing at a good pace, though dry weather conditions and late harvest of spring crops have affected some parts of southern Russia. However, the government plans to significantly increase area sown to winter cereals, in particular wheat and barley.

Russia is set to become a net exporter of cereals this year with total cereal exports expected to reach nearly 3 million tonnes compared with 1.2 million tonnes in 2000/01 marketing year (July/June). Cereal imports in 2001/02 marketing year are forecast at 2.7 million tonnes, which is similar to the previous year. Maize accounts for 1.2 million tonnes of the total imports mainly due to reduced production and a surge in poultry industry, which has caused a sharp rise in demand for maize. Wheat exports may reach about 1.4 million tonnes this year compared with only 700 000 tonnes in the previous year. Barley export in 2001/02 marketing year is set to reach 1.5 million tonnes, about 1 million tonnes more than the preceding marketing year.

Civil conflicts in Chechnya have intensified during the past few months further deteriorating living conditions and compromising crop production. Many people continue to depend on WFP and international NGOs for basic and complementary food assistance. Currently WFP is providing emergency food aid to about 280 000 people in Ingushetia and Chechnya. This programme is expected to continue until the end of December 2002. By then about 56 500 tonnes of food aid would have been distributed to some 310 000 internally displaced and poor food insecure persons in the North Caucasus.