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Russian Agriculture Ministry happy with this year’s harvest

As of now, 68.38 million tonnes of grain have been collected, which is 700,000 tonnes more than in the less successful year 2009

MOSCOW, September 6 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian Agriculture Ministry is happy with this year’s harvest. President Dmitry Medvedev says that the good harvest must form reserves for the future.

“As of now, 68.38 million tonnes of grain have been collected, which is 700,000 tonnes more than in the less successful year 2009,” Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik told Medvedev on Tuesday. “We have fully recovered from the severe drought conditions. Russia has a good harvest of rape, corn, sunflower seeds and vegetables, and fully meets the potato demand with local products,” she said.

“We are sowing winter crops. A total of 4 million hectares have been sown with winter crops in southern regions, which is 2 million more than in 2009. In all, winter crops will be sown on 17.8 million hectares, while the harvest will near 30 centners per hectare or 50 million tonnes,” the minister said.

“Russia can not only preserve its harvest and ensure food security but also make reserves for the future,” Medvedev said. He ordered the minister to control an increase of farmers’ salaries and an improvement of social standards in the countryside.

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