18:00, 5 August 2010

In Volgograd Region, drought destroys half of grain crops

The hot summer has told fatally on grain crops in the Volgograd Region: the drought has ruined half of the expected crops; the suffered districts are provided with financial help.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Georgi Volkolupov, acting chair of the Committee for Agriculture and Foodstuffs of the Volgograd Regional Administration, that total grain crops (winter and summer) made 2.156 million hectares. Of them, the adverse weather conditions killed 446,300 hectares of winter crops (in January, it was raining for five days; then, the soil was under ice crust). By August 3, the drought killed crops in 517,600 hectares. Now the harvested area of grain crops makes less than 1.2 million hectares. The drought continues reducing yield day after day.

The general losses caused by the drought in the region are estimated as 3.6 billion roubles.

According to Mr Volkolupov, should the drought persist for at least a month more, the autumn sowing campaign may fail whatsoever.

Author: Vyacheslav Yashenko

Source: CK correspondent