Republic of Kalmykia

Cereal yields in Kalmykia exceeded 25 years.

Over 658 thousand tonnes of grain and rice were harvested in the Republic of Kalmykia.

The farmers of Kalmykia have harvested the largest crop this year in a quarter of a century, said Batu Khasikov, President of the Republic of Kalmykia, in his Instagram account on Tuesday.

“Our agrarians are finishing the year with good results. We have harvested the largest crop in the last 25 years – over 658 thousand tonnes of grain and rice. The state programme for agricultural development and regulation of agricultural products, raw materials and food markets has been practically implemented, seven subprogrammes of which cover all areas of the industry, from reclamation works to improvement of rural areas,” wrote the President of the Republic of Kalmykia, Batu Khasikov.

The President of the Republic of Kalmykia noted that the record harvest was not so much the result of favorable weather conditions as the result of the work of the industry’s employees and all the work being done today to develop the agricultural sector in the region. The success of the farmers of Kalmykia was recognised at a recent working meeting in Moscow by Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev.

“An important point is that all funds invested in the development of the industry must be used strictly for their intended purpose. I will not tolerate any corruption in this agency, as in others,” added Khasikov.

The Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kalmykia, Sanal Adyaev, earlier reported that by the end of 2018 the republic had harvested 461.3 thousand tonnes of grain and leguminous crops. The average wheat yield this year was 23 c/ha, compared to 22.9 c/ha last year. The share of winter wheat food grains is 78%, which is 17% more than last year’s result. The grain produced in Kalmykia is partially sold to neighbouring regions (Astrakhan Oblast, Dagestan, and the Chechen Republic) and is also delivered to the ports of Novorossiysk and Olya (Astrakhan Oblast).

Kalmykia is predominantly an agrarian republic, where livestock production accounts for 80% of gross agricultural output. In 2019, more than 1 billion roubles was allocated from the federal and republican budgets for state support of the agricultural sector.