Crop Seedings Pace Slower in Russia

KIEV - May 8/03 - APK -- Farms throughout all of Russia's Federal Districts are now involved in spring fieldwork. However, it has not been possible to overcome the lag from last year, which appeared due to late spring and cold weather in the country.

Thus, according to information from agriculture ministry, as of May 6 this year spring crops were sown on 9.5 million hectares (18.4% of total area, projected for sowing), including 6.85 million hectares of grains and pulses (20.8%), while on the same day last year the area planted to spring crops had been 19.3 million hectares (36%); grains had been planted on 12.1 million hectares (also 36%).

Sugar beet in the country is planted on 544,200 hectares, which is by 13,400 hectares higher than average performances over 1995-2002 (530,800 hectares). However, this is by nearly 161,000 hectares less than the area, sown as of May 6, 2002.

Farmers in Central, Southern and Siberian Federal Districts are planting sunflower. As of May 6, 2003, they sowed 1.22 million hectares out of the planned 3.9 million hectares, which approximately corresponds to yearly average rates in 1995-2002 (1.26 million hectares). This is, however by 380,000 hectares less than the area, sown on May 6, 2002.

In this season it is planned to sow spring crops on nearly 51.7 million hectares, including 32.8 million hectares of grains.

In 2002 Russia harvested 86.5 million metric tons (MT) of grain against 85.5 million MT the year before.

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