The abnormally hot Russian summer might cause the country to lose up to 30% of its crop yield compared with the amounts harvested in 2009, RIA Novosti refers to head of Rosgidromet Alexander Frolov as saying.
Frolov reports the weather service forecasts the yield of 67 to 70 million tons against the 97 million tons collected last year.
‘We expect a 30% drop in this year’s potato and sugar beet harvests due to the draught,’ Frolov announced at a recent press conference.
In the meantime, the Russian Government imposed a temporary ban on the export of wheat, meslin, barley, rye, corn, and flour from the country on Thursday, August 5, 2010. The ban will be in force from August 15, 2010 to December 31, 2010.