The drought has damaged 10.1 million hectares, or 32 percent of all planted areas, including for grains, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik said Friday.
The government may delay an Aug. 4 start to selling 3 million tons of stockpiled grain as it assesses drought damage, she said. First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said the stockpiles could be used for exports once domestic demand is met.
(Bloomberg)