In the 2019-2020 agricultural year, the sunflower crop in Russia will reach a record high of 15.3 million tons. This is 20% more than last year. Such data are contained in the report of the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. At the same time, the document notes that the increase in indicators occurred, despite a decrease in the total area sown by this crop by 6%.
According to the US department, the growth of sunflower crops, most of which are grown in Russia in the Volga, Southern and Central Federal Districts, has been observed since 2010. According to foreign experts, this situation is largely due to investments in hybrid seed varieties. It is noteworthy that a reservation is made in the document: data on the yield of this oilseed crop in the Crimea are not taken into account.
“The production of sunflower seeds in Russia in the season 2019-2020 is estimated at 15.3 million tons, which is 6% more than last month (December 2019. - RT ), and 20% more than last year (season 2018—2019. - RT ) ... Investments in hybrid seed varieties have contributed to increased yields since 2010. Estimates of crop yields in Russia by the US Department of Agriculture do not include estimates of production in Crimea, ”the text says.
Vasily Uzun, chief researcher at the Center for Agro-Food Policy at the Institute of Applied Economic Research, RANEPA, noted in a conversation with RT that the high profitability of the product could also have an impact on the growth of sunflower production.
In turn, the general director of the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies Dmitry Rylko believes that the increase in the yield of sunflower and a number of other crops is also due to the economic situation. In an interview with RT, he recalled that several years ago, against the background of the imposition of sanctions against the Russian Federation by Europeans and Americans, the value of the Russian ruble sharply decreased in relation to foreign currencies. However, pegging agricultural prices to the dollar had a positive effect on the financial well-being of domestic farmers and enabled them to invest more actively in capital goods.
“Our farmers buy their means of production mainly in rubles, and product prices are pegged to the dollar, so this two-time devaluation very, very favorably affected the margins of our farmers. They got more money, and due to this, they increased, so to say, the manufacturability of their production. They began to buy more fertilizers, more plant protection products, switched to good seeds, their agricultural technology improved, good seeders appeared - all this together and led to an increase in productivity. Plus, we had quite good weather during these years, ”Rylko explained.
Recall that in 2014 a number of Western countries imposed sanctions against Russia due to events in Ukraine. In response, on August 6 of the same year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree “On the Application of Certain Special Economic Measures to Ensure the Security of the Russian Federation”. An embargo on imports of certain types of agricultural products from the USA, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway came into force.
This step contributed to the development of agricultural production within the country and the strengthening of food security of the state.
So, in December 2019, Putin, during a meeting of the State Council, which discussed the development of the country's agro-industrial complex, announced a record harvest of sugar beets, sunflowers and soybeans in 2019.
“This year we have a record harvest of sugar beets, sunflowers, soybeans. By grain, according to all forecasts, we again achieve a high result - about 121 million tons. 100 million annual yields are becoming a steady trend. What was previously perceived as a record is the norm today, ”the head of state added.
- RIA News
- © Thomas Thaytsuk
In addition to sunflower, US researchers predict a 27% increase in Russia's corn crop compared to last year. According to the data provided in the US Department of Agriculture document, this figure can reach 14.5 million tons.
“Corn production in Russia in the 2019–2020 season is estimated at 14.5 million tons, which is 4% more than last month, and 27% more than last year. The total sown area is estimated at 2.55 million ha, which is 4% more than last month, and 8% more than last year, ”the text says.
At the same time, experts did not rule out a possible decrease in the productivity of Russian wheat. So, it is assumed that the figures will approach the level of 73.5 million tons, which is 3% less than last year.
“Wheat production in Russia in the 2019–2020 season is estimated at 73.5 million tons, which ... is 3% less than last year,” the report states.
In turn, analyst Dmitry Rylko, in a conversation with RT, noted that Russia continues to increase its share of exports in the wheat market, "where it has become the number one exporter for the third year in a row," while clarifying that the situation with corn exports is a little less favorable.