Russia's Winter Crops Face Historic Struggles

Winter crops in Russia are facing unprecedented challenges, with 37% in poor condition or un-sprouted, a drastic rise from previous years. Only 5.48 million hectares are in good condition, the smallest in 23 years, reflecting significant weather-related impacts on the country's agriculture sector.

Russia's winter crops are undergoing a severe crisis, with more than 37% in poor condition or yet to sprout, according to analysts from the ProZerno centre. This figure, derived from data by the state weather forecasting agency, indicates a stark increase compared to past years.

Currently, just 31% of winter crops are in good condition, a significant drop from 74% observed the previous year. This marks only 5.48 million hectares as satisfactory, the lowest recorded in over two decades, shedding light on the serious state of affairs.

In light of these grim statistics, the bad weather that has plagued various grain-producing regions has prompted Russian officials to slightly revise this year's grain harvest estimate to 130 million metric tons, with no forecast provided yet for the following year. The ongoing situation underscores the urgent need for strategic responses to climate challenges impacting agriculture.

(With inputs from agencies.)