OTTAWA -- Russia will probably be buying foreign grain for its Far East, and discussed the possibility of buying Canadian grain, but it is too early to discuss sources and volumes, Russia's top agriculture official has conceded.


Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zaveryukha, who visited Canada this week, said Russia would probably continue its practice of selling grain to neighboring countries and buying high-quality foreign grain for its eastern regions because of high transport costs.


Any possible purchases would be done commercially, without the use of credits, he said.


Russian agriculture officials have forecast this year's harvest at about 65-67 million tons, down from 81.3 million tons last year.


Yields in other Commonwealth of Independent States countries such as Kazakhstan and Ukraine also have slipped this year.