Oryol Declares State of Emergency Amid Severe Drought

The Oryol region, Russia's tenth-largest grain producer, has declared a state of emergency due to severe drought and winter crop damage. This move allows farmers to receive compensation. Adverse weather, including both drought and heavy rains, has impacted several major grain-producing regions in Russia, affecting winter crop conditions.

The Oryol region, Russia's tenth-largest grain producer, has declared a state of emergency due to severe drought and subsequent winter crop damage, according to local authorities. With several other major Russian grain-producing regions already in states of emergency due to adverse weather, the Oryol region's plight highlights a broader agricultural crisis.

This emergency status affords farmers the right to compensation. "Adverse weather conditions have resulted in a dangerous agrometeorological phenomenon—atmospheric drought—leading to the death of winter crop plantings," stated the Oryol agriculture ministry. The state's declaration stresses the gravity of the situation.

On Wednesday, Russia's weather forecast agency reported that the conditions for winter crops in certain key regions are worse than usual due to a lack of rainfall. This includes the Central, Southern, North-Caucasus, and parts of the Volga regions. Sovecon consultancy remarked in late September that winter wheat sowing rates have hit an 11-year low in Russia due to the drought, casting a bleak outlook for the 2025 grain harvest.

(With inputs from agencies.)